The term “score” in the context of the number 20 has an interesting historical and linguistic background. It is an old English word used primarily in the Old and Middle English periods, and its use in counting or numbering has been influenced by historical and cultural practices. Let’s break down why 20 is called a score:
1. Origin of the Word “Score”:
The word “score” comes from the Old English word “sceor” or “scoru”, which referred to a notch or a tally mark used to count or record items. In earlier times, when people didn’t have written records or sophisticated counting systems, they would use tally marks to keep track of things. Each notch or mark represented a single item or unit.
2. Historical Counting Method:
To make counting easier, people often grouped these tally marks in sets of 20. One group or “score” would represent 20 units, and the practice of counting by 20 became standardized in some ancient societies. This method of grouping and counting was particularly common in medieval Europe and has been carried through to modern English.
The use of 20 as a base unit can be traced back to various cultures, where score was used as a convenient counting unit. For example, in some ancient cultures, counting in sets of 20 (a vigesimal system) was prevalent.
Here, “four score” means four sets of 20, or 80 years (4 × 20 = 80). This use of “score” in the address highlights the fact that it was a formal and traditional way of counting during that time. Lincoln’s use of “score” was not just poetic but also a reflection of the language and counting conventions of the period.
4. Modern Usage:
Today, the word “score” is rarely used in its numerical sense of 20. However, it occasionally appears in more formal, literary, or historical contexts. It’s still understood as meaning 20, though it’s mostly a relic of older English usage. Modern language has largely replaced it with the more straightforward “20”, but the expression “a score” remains a part of our historical and linguistic heritage.
5. Why 20?:
The preference for 20 as a basic counting unit can be traced to the use of fingers and toes as counting tools. Early humans would count in sets of 20 because they had 20 digits in total (10 fingers and 10 toes). This vigesimal system (base-20 counting) was used in many ancient cultures, and it’s why 20 became a natural grouping for counting.
6. Examples of “Score” in Other Phrases:
- “A score of years”: This can be used to refer to a period of 20 years.
- “Two score and ten”: This means 70 (2 × 20 + 10).
- “Ten score”: This equals 200 (10 × 20).
Conclusion:
The term “score” for 20 originates from the Old English word for a tally mark, which evolved into the practice of counting in sets of 20. While this usage has mostly fallen out of everyday speech, it remains a significant part of historical English, with its most famous instance being in Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The number 20 as a “score” reflects ancient counting methods based on the human body (fingers and toes) and has influenced how we count in certain cultures.