A "virgule" is a diagonal mark (/) used to separate alternatives, represent "per," or indicate the ends of verse lines. In British English, it's sometimes called a "shilling bar."
Una "vírgula" es una marca diagonal (/) utilizada para separar alternativas, representar "por" o indicar el final de versos. En inglés británico, a veces se le llama "shilling bar".
| Front | virgule \VUR-gyool\ |
|---|---|
| Back | noun A diagonal mark (/) used especially to separate alternatives, as in and/or, to represent the word per, as in miles/hour, and to indicate the ends of verse lines printed continuously, as in Old King Cole/Was a merry old soul. [French, comma, obelus, from Late Latin virgula, accentual mark, from Latin, obelus, diminutive of virga, rod.] "Though no longer used as a British coin, the shilling still is well known throughout the world. This may explain why British printers call a virgule (a slanted line that now is common on computer keyboards) a shilling bar. Americans tend to call it a slash bar or slash." - Weiner, Richard, This wrap is a bomb. (differences in media language between UK and US), Communication World, 1 Dec 1997. |
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