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Dave Stubbs
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 174
Location: Manchester, UK (Tel: 0161 794 5558/ Mob: 07985 437940)
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 Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:24 am Post subject: Organ Theory...? |
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Could someone explain where the word 'Ciphering' (Cyphering?) originates. This refers to a 'leaking note' on an organ.
Curious,
Dave (Admin) |
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bob west
Silver Member
Joined: 12 Jul 2006
Posts: 39
Location: Clapham, Bedfordshire
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| Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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Dave,
Is it not possible that this word should be " syphoning or siphoning", meaning to draw off or redirect. Bob  |
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Dave Stubbs
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 174
Location: Manchester, UK (Tel: 0161 794 5558/ Mob: 07985 437940)
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:32 am Post subject: Siphoning...? |
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Hi Bob.
Thanks for your reply.
I assume that it should be 'Siphoning' / 'Syphoning', but I have seen it written as 'Ciphering' or even 'Ciphers' if there are a number of leaky notes.
Or do we have another issue of spelling mistakes again!
Regards, Dave |
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roger wiegand
Bronze Member
Joined: 25 Aug 2006
Posts: 1
Location: Wayland, MA USA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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From the OED:
| Quote: | Cipher:
7. The continuous sounding of any note upon an organ, owing to the imperfect closing of the pallet or valve without any pressure upon the corresponding key.
1779 BURNEY Infant Music. in Phil. Trans. LXIX. 198 He weakened the springs of two keys at once, which, by preventing the valves of the wind-chest from closing, occasioned a double cipher. 1884 W. S. ROCKSTRO Mendelssohn xii. 82 During the course of the Fantasia..a long treble A began to sound on the swell..We well remember whispering to Mr. Vincent Novello..‘It must be a cypher’. |
Not much help on the origins of the word, though. It really doesn't make a lot of sense in either the normal arithmetic or cryptographic uses of the word.
Roger
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Cheers,
Roger
www.band-organ.com |
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Dave Stubbs
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Jun 2006
Posts: 174
Location: Manchester, UK (Tel: 0161 794 5558/ Mob: 07985 437940)
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:40 pm Post subject: Cipher |
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Hi Roger.
Thanks for that - very interesting...at least I know that the spelling is correct!
All we need now is a little etymology! (http://columbia.thefreedictionary.com/Etimology)
Best regards,
Dave |
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