In article <[log in to unmask]>, Christian Lheureux <[log in to unmask]> writes >Hi ! This is the Frenchmann adding his $.02 ... > >> I also remember reading that the French (maybe Denys will verify) also had >a >> base-20 numbering system. The article provided as proof the fact that the >> words for 40, 60, 80... are two-twenties, three-twenties, four-twenties... > >In fact, the only remaning trace of that "feature" of the French language is >the fact that 80 is called "quatre-vingts" (loosely translated as "four times >twenty"). In the 17th century (sorry, folks, I was not there to confirm), 120 >was similarly called "six-vingts". No idea about others . > >Christian Got it in English, too, where 20 is a 'score'. Mostly archaic now, as in the biblical 'three score and ten' as man's allotted span. Probably predates Abe... Still used of smallish crowds, though - 'Scores of angry theatregoers demanded their money back' and so on. BTW, what's the oddest number out there? My candidate is the quire - 26 - still used to bale newspapers.... -- Roy Brown Phone : (01684) 291710 Fax : (01684) 291712 Affirm Ltd Email : [log in to unmask] The Great Barn, Mill St 'Have nothing on your systems that you do not TEWKESBURY GL20 5SB (UK) know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.'