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hygroscopic -- the last word

Now that we've established that brake fluid is HYGROSCOPIC, you might
be interested to know that the word is pre-bimmer, even pre-Ford & pre-Benz.

According to the ultimate source (not a parts company), the Oxford
English Dictionary, the first usage in the sense that we use it today
is in 1790 by DeLuc (the well-known LeMans buggy enduro racer) in his
Philosophical Transactions 81 (sort of like Satch Carlson in Roundel):

"An hygroscopic body, which is not brought into contact with any other
body drier than itself, cannot lose any part of its moisutrue but by
evaporation."

A precursor, "hygroscope" was used in 1665 by the widely-quoted Anon.
It's an instruments which indicates the degree of humidity of the air.

Remember, "hygro" means moist/wet, while "hydro" means water (in Greek, natch).

Now you can impress all the folks at the parts department!

I promise -- my last posting on this issue (unless I find the Greek
origin of ABS).

- -- 
- ---------------------------------------------------------------
Barry Wellman           wellman@domain.elided            8-)