On Wed, 06 Sep 2006 21:49:20 -0400, William Case wrote: > On Wed, 2006-06-09 at 20:04 -0400, Gene Heskett wrote: >> On Wednesday 06 September 2006 15:03, Bob Goodwin wrote: >> >Mike McCarty wrote: >> >> Gene Heskett wrote: >> >>> On Tuesday 05 September 2006 12:25, Michael P. Brininstool wrote: >> >>>> dictionary.com sez basically that fuse is the thing you light to blow >> >>>> something up and the fuze is an electronic version of same. >> >>> >> >>> And as a C.E.T. of 34 years, and chasing electrons for a living for >> >>> 57 or so, I have yet to see the hot wire device designed to open a >> >>> circuit when too much current flows called anything but a fuse, with >> >>> an 's'. Thats not >> >> >> >> Yep. >> >> >> >>> saying it couldn't be so spelled in other locales, but here, there's >> >>> only one way to spell it unless the writer failed spelling. >> >> >> >> Then dictionary.com is wrong. A fuze is a device for detonating a >> >> weapon. A fuse is an electrical device. I've been doing electronics >> >> for 40 years, and *never* have encountered the term "fuze" to mean >> >> an electronics component. >> >> >> >> Furthermore, I looked in a "real" dictionary, and that's what it >> >> verified. >> >> >> >> Mike >> > >> >*My ancient dictionary, about as fragile as the dead sea scrolls, even >> >shows pictures of several "fuzes!" Two have propellers and they >> >obviously screw into the nose of a projectile/bomb. >> > >> >"FUZE noun A mechanical or electrical device that initiates the >> >explosive charge of a shell, bomb, grenade, etc." >> > >> >Funk & Wagnalls New College Standard Dictionary C. 1947 >> >> Darn, first braggart hasn't a chance in this company. My Websters is 11 >> years newer. :( >> >> >Thunderbird Compose spell checker can't deal with Fuze though! >> > > I sympathize with the American posters here who know no better than to > use American toys that call themselves dictionaries. The OED which is a > real English dictionary does not define fuze directly but simply refers > to fuse. The definition of fuse(n.) includes something to break an > electrical circuit and something to ignite explosives, so that should > settle it. > -- > Regards Bill 'Fuze' historically refers to not just any fuse, but a specific fuse, the proximity fuze. Why? Dunno. However, that's the etymology. -Thufir
