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| {{For|articles whose name contain "disc" or "disk"|Disc (disambiguation)}} | |||
| {{Wiktionary|disc|disk}} | |||
| '''Disc''' and '''disk''' are the two alternative spellings of the descriptive word for things of a generally thin and circular geometry. These variations are due to the way in which the words originated. The discussion here somewhat focuses on how the word applies to data-storage ]. See ] for other meanings. | |||
| The earlier word is ''disk'', which came into the ] in the middle of the 17th century, and (probably following pre-existing words such as ''risk'') it was spelled with a ''k''. The spelling ''disc'' was introduced in the 18th century, following an increasing tendency to base the spelling of words on their roots: in this case the ] word ''discus'' and the ] word ''δισκος'' (note that '']'' in Greek is usually ]d by ''c'' rather than ''k''). In the 19th century, ''disc'' became the conventional spelling for ]s made on a flat plate, such as the ]; this usage gave rise to the modern term '']''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bartleby.com/61/16/C0521600.html |title= Compact disk |year= 2000 |work= ] |publisher= Bartleby.com}}</ref>{{Dead link|date=December 2010}} Early ] technicians differentiated between ''disks'' (in-house transcription records) and ''discs'' (the colloquial term for commercial gramophone records, or what the BBC dubbed CGRs).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.btinternet.com/~roger.beckwith/bh/grams/grams_4.htm |title= Test Records |date= 2008-03-12 |accessdate= 2008-06-11 |author=Barry Taylor |publisher= ]}}</ref> | |||
| By the 20th century, the ''c''-spelling was more popular in ], while the ''k''-spelling was preferred in ]. In the 1950s, when the American company ] pioneered the first ] storage devices, the ''k''-spelling was used. Consequently, in ] today it is common for the ''k''-spelling to refer mainly to magnetic storage devices (particularly in British English, where the term ''disk'' is sometimes regarded as a contraction of '']'', a much later word and actually a diminutive of ''disk''). | |||
| Some latter-day storage device manufacturers prefer the ''c''-spelling. In 1979 the Dutch company ], along with ], developed the ] medium; here, the ''c''-spelling was chosen. The ''c''-spelling is now used consistently for optical media such as the compact disc and similar technologies.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/disc.html |title=Common Errors in English |author=Paul Brians |publisher=] |accessdate= 2008-06-11}}</ref> | |||
| == References == | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| == Further reading == | |||
| {{refbegin}} | |||
| * , article at wiseGEEK.com | |||
| * | |||
| {{refend}} | |||
| == See also == | |||
| * ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 10:05, 18 December 2010
For articles whose name contain "disc" or "disk", see Disc (disambiguation).Disc and disk are the two alternative spellings of the descriptive word for things of a generally thin and circular geometry. These variations are due to the way in which the words originated. The discussion here somewhat focuses on how the word applies to data-storage media. See Disc (disambiguation) for other meanings.
The earlier word is disk, which came into the English language in the middle of the 17th century, and (probably following pre-existing words such as risk) it was spelled with a k. The spelling disc was introduced in the 18th century, following an increasing tendency to base the spelling of words on their roots: in this case the Latin word discus and the Greek word δισκος (note that kappa in Greek is usually transliterated by c rather than k). In the 19th century, disc became the conventional spelling for audio recordings made on a flat plate, such as the gramophone record; this usage gave rise to the modern term disc jockey. Early BBC technicians differentiated between disks (in-house transcription records) and discs (the colloquial term for commercial gramophone records, or what the BBC dubbed CGRs).
By the 20th century, the c-spelling was more popular in British English, while the k-spelling was preferred in American English. In the 1950s, when the American company IBM pioneered the first hard disk drive storage devices, the k-spelling was used. Consequently, in computer jargon today it is common for the k-spelling to refer mainly to magnetic storage devices (particularly in British English, where the term disk is sometimes regarded as a contraction of diskette, a much later word and actually a diminutive of disk).
Some latter-day storage device manufacturers prefer the c-spelling. In 1979 the Dutch company Philips, along with Sony, developed the compact disc medium; here, the c-spelling was chosen. The c-spelling is now used consistently for optical media such as the compact disc and similar technologies.
References
- "Compact disk". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Bartleby.com. 2000.
- Barry Taylor (2008-03-12). "Test Records". BTInternet. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- Paul Brians. "Common Errors in English". Washington State University. Retrieved 2008-06-11.
Further reading
- What is the Difference Between a Disc and a Disk?, article at wiseGEEK.com
- Apple Support Document HT2300: What's the difference between a "disc" and a "disk?"