Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!ut-sally!husc6!rutgers!labrea!decwrl!nsc!nsta!amos
From: amos@nsta.UUCP (Amos Shapir)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Size of "Byte"
Message-ID: <315@nsta.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 20-Jul-87 10:32:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: nsta.315
Posted: Mon Jul 20 10:32:43 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 21-Jul-87 05:55:03 EDT
References: <2792@phri.UUCP> <142700011@tiger.UUCP>
Reply-To: amos%nsta@nsc.com (Amos Shapir)
Distribution: world
Organization: National Semiconductor (Israel) Ltd. Home of the 32532
Lines: 15
Hdate: 23 Tamuz 5747


In article <142700011@tiger.UUCP> rjd@tiger.UUCP writes:
>  I HAVE AN IDEA!!! Lets look it up........ (turning pages on my Webster's):
>
>byte - n. [arbitrary formation, < BITE ] a string of binary digits, usually
>    eight, operated on as a basic unit by a digital computer.

Keep reading! (at least in the edition I have):
... The term was formed by a shortened pronounciation of the words 'by eight'...
So 8-bit bytes are more 'natural' somehow.

-- 
	Amos Shapir			(My other cpu is a NS32532)
National Semiconductor (Israel)
6 Maskit st. P.O.B. 3007, Herzlia 46104, Israel  Tel. (972)52-522261
amos%nsta@nsc.com @{hplabs,pyramid,sun,decwrl} 34 48 E / 32 10 N