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From: mbaker@iee.org (Mark Baker)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.shell,comp.os.linux.misc,comp.os.linux.x,alt.os.linux,comp.unix.bsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,gnu.misc.discuss,comp.unix.solaris
Subject: Re: unix acronyms -collecting a list?
Date: 8 Jun 1997 18:06:54 +0100
Organization: Mark's linux box
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In article <5n2phh$jda@cicsun.univ-bpclermont.fr>,
espel@llaic.univ-bpclermont.fr (Roger Espel Llima) writes:
> webster doesn't seem to agree with your definitions:
That's OK, because the COD does, more or less
>
> $ webster acronym
> ac.ro.nym \'ak-r*-.nim\ n [acr- + -onym (as in homonym)] : a word (as
> radar, snafu) formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the
> successive parts or major parts of a compound term
initialism n. a group of initial letters used as an abbreviation
for a name or expression, each letter being pronounced separately
(e.g. BBC)(cf. acronym)
acronym n. a word, usu. pronounced as such, formed from the
initial letters of other words (e.g. Ernie, laser, Nato)
which makes it clear that only those which are pronounced as a word can be
called acronyms, and the definition of initialism certainly implies that
an abbreviation can be formed from a letter from each word.
Of course, US usage may be different, but if so the COD editors didn't know
it, because they normally mark US usages.