"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."

Friday, 11 December 2009

Catenary

A catenary is the sag in a line strung between two points; a curve into which a uniform rope or cable falls when suspended from two points, as in a suspension bridge; the structure of cables above the track which carries the electric supply for electric locomotives that use overhead electricity .

(My Christmas cards hang on a string which sags in the middle with their weight - so they end up all piled up together in the catenary!)

1 comment:

  1. You've proven it! There is, indeed, a word for everything! :)

    ReplyDelete