Friday, April 28, 2023

X for...


#AtoZChallenge 2023 letter X

(A slim pickings day. It's X, after all).

X EQUALS___:

Along with learning the letter X in the alphabet, we also used X in math, as the symbol for "times" in multiplication. And when it came time to learn algebra, there were numerous equations containing x. Also X for 10 in Roman numerals. Our teachers didn't give us many lessons on these, though. And our Xs and Os for tic-tac-toe. It was years before I noticed XXX used in cartoons to mean "liquor." This originated from 19th century British breweries marking their products with Xs to indicate the potency of the brew--one to indicate the weakest brew, and three (and rarely four) for the strongest.

What else did people use X for?


XYLOPHONE:

I'm sure I had a toy xylophone at some point. And I seem to think this was the one. At least I'm sure it had the rainbow colors on it. Or at least I knew someone who had one 🙂


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eXCITED for the end. See YOU again tomorrow.

4 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

X-rated for sex/porn -- really raunchy is XXX-rated. "X marks the spot" on pirate maps. That's all I've got to contribute!

Liz A. said...

When many people couldn't read or write, they could use the X to mark as their signature. It's the hardest day on A to Z for sure. I was so happy to meet a girl named Ximena. I totally used her name one year.

Bernadette said...

We had xylophone as well. Played it all the time! One of our most loved toys.

Elephant's Child said...

We have (or had - I haven't seen any ads recently) a beer called Four X.