Too many people refer to this as the "hash" symbol, not knowing its correct name: "octathorpe"...
The Old English word "thorpe" is seen in place names [such as ScunTHORPE] meaning "village". The symbol of the double cross was used by map makers to indicate a village...surrounded by eight [hence "octa"] fields. When look again at the symbol, the central square represents the buildings, and the surrounding lines outline the eight fields. #
Posted by dcox at September 25, 2009 09:35 PM