Thanks everyone for the help. As to what tsuwm said, I think it's plausible but I have seen "anoctothorpe" around more often; does that make it an accepted alternative spelling (perhaps like "color" vs "colour")? Thank you wofahulicodoc, Father Steve and Faldage for those links, that was really interesting!

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." –Rudyard Kipling

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." –Rudyard Kipling