- Napier's bones
- noun Date: circa 1658 a set of graduated rods (as of wood or bone) invented by John Napier and used for multiplication and division based on the principles of logarithms
New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.
Napier's bones
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Napier's bones — Na pi*er s bones , Napier s rods Na pi*er s rods A set of rods, made of bone or other material, each divided into nine spaces, and containing the numbers of a column of the multiplication table; a contrivance of Baron Napier, the inventor of… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Napier's bones — Computing devices in Rabdology Napier s bones Promptuary … Wikipedia
Napier's bones — Math. a form of multiplication table originally marked on sticks of bone or ivory that could be rearranged to carry out the operations of multiplication or division. Also called Napier s rods. [1650 60; after their developer, J. NAPIER] * * * … Universalium
Napier's bones — noun a set of graduated rods formerly used to do multiplication and division by a method invented by John Napier • Syn: ↑Napier s rods • Usage Domain: ↑plural, ↑plural form • Hypernyms: ↑calculator, ↑calculating machine … Useful english dictionary
Napier's bones — noun A set of numbered rods used for multiplication and division (see the Wikipedia article for a fuller explanation) … Wiktionary
Napier's bones — plural noun Mathematics slips of ivory or other material divided into sections marked with digits, formerly used to facilitate multiplication and division … English new terms dictionary
Napier's rods — Napier s bones Na pi*er s bones , Napier s rods Na pi*er s rods A set of rods, made of bone or other material, each divided into nine spaces, and containing the numbers of a column of the multiplication table; a contrivance of Baron Napier, the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Napier's rods — noun a set of graduated rods formerly used to do multiplication and division by a method invented by John Napier • Syn: ↑Napier s bones • Usage Domain: ↑plural, ↑plural form • Hypernyms: ↑calculator, ↑calculating machine … Useful english dictionary
Napier, John — born 1550, Merchiston Castle, near Edinburgh, Scot. died April 4, 1617, Merchiston Castle Scottish mathematician and champion of Protestantism. He divided his life between attacks on the church of Rome and the pursuit of numerical calculations.… … Universalium
Napier's rods — noun Another name for Napier’s bones … Wiktionary
