Etymology

arabic numeral

Today it means: A number represented using an Indian and Arabic system involving the symbols 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0, representing digits. Full definition →

First used 1727Medieval Latin numerus Arabicus
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The story

  1. Medieval Latin · calque ofnumerus Arabicus
  2. English todayArabic numeral

A calque of Medieval Latin numerus Arabicus, from its gradual adoption in Europe from Arabic sources.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 1727 A number represented using an Indian and Arabic system involving the symbols 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0, representing digits.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.