Definitions
a calculator that performs arithmetic functions by manually sliding counters on rods or in grooves
Word origin
From Late Middle English abacus, abagus, agabus (“abacus; art of counting with an abacus”), from Latin abacus, abax (“sideboard or table with a slab at the top; slab at the top of a column; counting board, sand table; board for playing games”) (compare Late Latin abacus (“art of arithmetic”)), from Ancient Greek ἄβαξ (ábax, “slab, counting board; board covered with sand for drawing; plate; dice-board”). Doublet of abaque and abac.
Used in a sentence
“I’ve heard merchants still use an abacus for adding things up in China.”
“The computer is but another vehicle to employ in helping people learn, a cousin of books, films, blackboards, chalk, gerbils, abacuses. Like each of these devices, it can be well used or misused.”
“Before Pythagoras it was necessary to see the thing before counting it, like children who learn on abacuses, with balls sliding along rods: children learn to add and subtract by sliding stones.”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer2 curated clues
01“bead calculator”6 letters
02“Counting tool”6 letters
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