Napier's bones

Meanings

nounNapier's bones pl (plural only)

pluralplural onlyarithmeticA set of numbered rods used for multiplication and division (see the Wikipedia article for a fuller explanation).

nouna set of graduated rods formerly used to do multiplication and division by a method invented by John Napier

Similar

Broader

calculatorcalculating machine

Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Catalan àbac neperià

Finnish Napierin luut

German Napiersche Rechenstäbchen

Napiersche Rechenstäbchena set of numbered rods used for multiplication and division

Greek οστά του Νάπιερ

οστά του Νάπιερ (ostá tou Nápier)a set of numbered rods used for multiplication and division

Hungarian Napier-csontok

Irish slata Napier

Polish kostki Napiera

Portuguese ossos de Napier

Russian па́лочки Не́пера, не́перовы па́лочки

па́лочки Не́пера (páločki Népera)a set of numbered rods used for multiplication and division
не́перовы па́лочки (néperovy páločki)a set of numbered rods used for multiplication and division

Spanish ábaco neperiano

Cite this entry

APA

Napier's bones. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Napier's%20bones

MLA

“Napier's bones.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Napier's%20bones. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Napier's bones,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Napier's%20bones.