eight

eight
eight late 14c., eighte, earlier ehte (c.1200), from O.E. eahta, æhta, from P.Gmc. *akhto(u) (Cf. O.S. ahto, O.Fris. ahta, O.N. atta, Swed. ôtta, Du. acht, O.H.G. Ahto, Ger. acht, Goth. ahtau), from PIE *okto(u) "eight" (Cf. Skt. astau, Avestan ashta, Gk. okto, L. octo, O.Ir. ocht-n, Bret. eiz, O.C.S. osmi, Lith. aЕЎtuoni). Klein calls it "an old dual form, orig. meaning 'twice four.' " For spelling, see FIGHT (Cf. fight). Meaning "eight-man crew of a rowing boat" is from 1847. The Spanish piece of eight (1690s) was so called because it was worth eight reals. Figure (of) eight as the shape of a race course, etc., attested from c.1600. To be behind the eight ball "in trouble" (1932) is a metaphor from shooting pool.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • eight — [eıt] number, n [: Old English; Origin: eahta] 1.) the number 8 ▪ It s only eight days till Christmas. ▪ They woke at eight (=eight o clock) . ▪ My parents died when I was eight (=eight years old) . 2.) a team of eight people who row a racing… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • eight — eight; eight·er; eight·ling; eight·pen·ny; eight·some; eight·fold; eight·i·eth; …   English syllables

  • eight — ► CARDINAL NUMBER 1) one more than seven; 8. (Roman numeral: viii or VIII.) 2) an eight oared rowing boat or its crew. ● have one over the eight Cf. ↑have one over the eight ● pieces of eight …   English terms dictionary

  • eight — [āt] adj. [ME eighte < OE eahta, akin to Ger acht < IE base * oktō(u) L octo, Gr oktō, OIr ocht] totaling one more than seven n. 1. the cardinal number between seven and nine; 8; VIII 2. any group of eight people or things, as a crew of… …   English World dictionary

  • eight — cylinder engine, or a vehicle fitted with one; the cylinders may be in line (a straight eight) or in a V layout (a V 8). Also see flat eight straight eight V eight …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • Eight — ([=a]t), n. 1. The number greater by a unit than seven; eight units or objects. [1913 Webster] 2. A symbol representing eight units, as 8 or viii. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Eight — ist das englische Wort für die Zahl Acht. Eight steht außerdem für: The Eight, ursprünglicher Name der Künstlergruppe Ashcan School Eight Inc., multidisziplinäres Design und Innovationsstudio …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Eight — ([=a]t), a. [AS. eahta; akin to OS. ahto, OFries. achta, D. & G. acht, OHG. ahto, Icel. [=a]tta, Sw. [*a]tta, Dan. otte, Goth. ahtau, Lith. aszt[*u]ni, Ir. & Gael. ochd, W. wyth, Armor. eich, eiz, L. octo, Gr. oktw , Skr. ash[.t]an. [root]306. Cf …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • eight|y — «AY tee», noun, plural eight|ies, adjective. eight times ten; 80: »The eighty cows were milked in two groups, forty at a time. ╂[short for Old English hundeahtatig] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Eight — ([=a]t), n. [See {Ait}.] An island in a river; an ait. [Obs.] Osiers on their eights. Evelyn. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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