>I realize that technically one should refer to 1, 2, and 3 as numerals, Arabic numerals to be precise,

Or Indian numerals, to give the original authors the credit they deserve. From Wikipedia
In reply to:


The Arabic numeral system is considered one of the most significant developments in mathematics. Most historians agree that it was first conceived of in India (particularly as Arabs themselves call the numerals they use “Indian numerals”, أرقام هندية, arqam hindiyyah), and was then transmitted to the Islamic world and thence, via North Africa and Spain, to Europe.

In one of those full circle things, the Indian numerals that spawned the ones we use are increasingly being displaced by their progeny.


noho ora mai
http://maxqnzs.com/References.html