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Origin and history of number

number(n.)

c. 1300, "sum, aggregate of a collection," from Anglo-French noumbre, Old French nombre and directly from Latin numerus "a number, quantity," from PIE root *nem- "assign, allot; take."

The meaning "written symbol or figure of arithmetic value" is from late 14c. The meaning "single (numbered) issue of a magazine" is from 1795. The colloquial sense of "a person or thing" is by 1894. The meaning "dialing combination to reach a particular telephone receiver" is from 1879; hence wrong number (1886).

The sense of "musical selection" (1885) is from popular theater programs, where acts were marked by a number. Earlier numbers meant "metrical sound or utterance, measured or harmonic expression" (late 15c.) and, from 1580s, "poetical measure, poetry, verse."

Number one "oneself" is from 1704 (mock-Italian form numero uno attested from 1973); the biblical Book of Numbers (c. 1400, Latin Numeri, Greek Arithmoi) is so called because it begins with a census of the Israelites. Childish slang number one and number two for "urination" and "defecation" attested from 1902. Number cruncher is 1966, of machines; 1971 of persons.

To get or have (someone's) number "have someone figured out" is attested from 1853; to say one's number is up (1806) meaning "one's time has come" is a reference to the numbers on a lottery, draft, etc. The numbers "illegal lottery" is from 1897, American English. Do a number on is by 1969, exact meaning unclear; by the early 1970s it can mean "emotionally manipulate" (1970), "damage or injure" (1975), or "assassinate, kill" (1971). The 1972 book of gay slang The Queen's Vernacular says it is synonymous with game, as well as with trick in the prostitution and magical senses, and defines it as "one’s skit, act, schtick; contrived actions used to gain attention." The image may be of a routine song-and-dance performance, which if so makes it from the "musical selection" sense.

also from c. 1300

number(v.)

c. 1300, "to count," from Old French nombrer "to count, reckon," from nombre (n.) "number" (see number (n.)). Meaning "to assign a distinctive number to" is late 14c.; that of "to ascertain the number of" is from early 15c. Related: Numbered; numbering.

also from c. 1300

Entries linking to number

game(n.)

c. 1200, from Old English gamen "joy, fun; game, amusement," common Germanic (cognates: Old Frisian game "joy, glee," Old Norse gaman "game, sport; pleasure, amusement," Old Saxon gaman, Old High German gaman "sport, merriment," Danish gamen, Swedish gamman "merriment"), said to be identical with Gothic gaman "participation, communion," from Proto-Germanic *ga- collective prefix + *mann "person," giving a sense of "people together."

The -en was lost perhaps through being mistaken for a suffix. Meaning "contest for success or superiority played according to rules" is first attested c. 1200 (of athletic contests, chess, backgammon). Especially "the sport of hunting, fishing, hawking, or fowling" (c. 1300), thus "wild animals caught for sport" (c. 1300), which is the game in fair game (see under fair (adj.)), also gamey. Meaning "number of points required to win a game" is from 1830. Game plan is 1941, from U.S. football; game show first attested 1961.

trick(n.)

early 15c., "a cheat, a mean ruse, crafty or fraudulent device," from Old North French trique "a deceit, treachery, cheating," from trikier "to deceive, to cheat," variant of Old French trichier "to cheat, trick, deceive," a word of uncertain origin.

OED (1989) cites scholars of French who refer it to Vulgar Latin *triccare, from Latin tricari "be evasive, shuffle," from tricæ "trifles, nonsense, a tangle of difficulties" (as in extricate, intricate), itself of uncertain etymology.

Others suggest a Middle Dutch origin or influence for the French word and point to Dutch trek "a pull, a tug" in a secondary sense "a trick." Also compare trigger, with which its senses have been entangled and its forms confused.

By 1570s as "clever device or expedient;" the meaning "a roguish prank" is recorded from 1580s. Formerly also "small article, toy, knick-knack" (1550s). To play tricks is by 1550s, formerly also often put tricks (1620s).

In card-playing, "cards collectively which have been played in one round," by 1590s (the taking of them often determines the winner of the game). Hence, probably, miss a trick "fail to take advantage of opportunity" (1889, probably extended from whist, where it is attested by 1872).

It is attested by c. 1600 as "feat or exhibition of skill to surprise or amuse." The sense of "art of doing something" is attested by 1610s. One's old tricks "bad habits" is by 1580s. Tricks of the trade "expediences, artifices, and dodges of a craft or business" is by 1895. Slang greeting how's tricks? is attested by 1882. To do the trick "accomplish one's purpose" is by 1812 in slang.

Trick-or-treat as a children's Halloween pastime is recorded from 1926 in Canada, as tricks or treats by 1917. Trick question, one designed to elicit more than it seems to ask, is from 1907. Also compare hat trick.

The meaning "prostitute's client" is first attested 1915; earlier it was U.S. slang for "a robbery" (by 1865).