cross hair etymology

Etymology

The term "cross hair" is a compound word with two parts:

• "Cross": From the Old English "cros," meaning "a mark consisting of two lines intersecting at right angles."
• "Hair": From the Old English "hær," meaning "a fine thread."

Meaning and Origin

A cross hair is a fine, intersecting line or wire placed in the optical path of an optical instrument, such as a telescope, microscope, or camera. It serves as a reference point or aiming device for the observer.

• In the 17th century, early telescopes and microscopes used thin strands of human or spider hair as cross hairs.
• The term "cross hair" first appeared in the mid-1700s to describe these thin hairs used in telescopes.
• Over time, the term came to be applied to any type of thin, intersecting line or wire used as a reference point in optical instruments.

Other Uses

Besides its primary use in optical instruments, the term "cross hair" has also been used in other contexts:

• Computer graphics: A cross hair is a cursor used to select targets or points on a computer screen.
• Military: A cross hair is sometimes used to denote a target or aim point.
• Gaming: In video games, a cross hair is often displayed on the screen to indicate where a player is aiming.

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