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stranger
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OP
stranger
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For many years I have observed a peculiar use of the word 'off' in electronic parts lists, where one might write
3 off left handed toggle widget
meaning three of them are required.
I had always assumed this use, which is not mentioned in my dictionary, was local to the electronics industry. Today, however, I noticed "Enclosed Turnstiles (20 off)" in the dome auction brochure.
Does anyone know where this use comes from? Is it a corruption of 'of'?
Phil
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Hi Phil
I've come across this too, over quite a wide range of backgrounds including I think Quantity Surveying - but will await more learned responses on its etymology.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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3 off meaning three of them are required.
I had always assumed this use, which is not mentioned in my dictionary, was local to the electronics industry.
How about a mistake that perpetuated itself and sloppy editing and -- my favorite hobby horse -- the lack of understandable-by-laymen writing in the technical industries's handbooks and directions.
Harumph!
wow
P.S. "Let us not persevere in the wrong for the sake of consistency"
a quote from one of the lesser known US Presidents whose name escapes me.
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Turnstiles 20 off
Dear Phil: In that context, did they mean 20% off? wwh
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Joined: Sep 2000
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stranger
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stranger
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I think not. This is an auction catalogue, so 20% off what? Also, one item was marked was "100 off"!
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member
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How about a mistake that perpetuated itself and sloppy editing ... I suspect not, wow. The term is common in many engineering and related areas, and has been for many, many years, with the connotation of "how many are to come off this production line, or off this stock pile" and similar usages. And of course there is the (probably) related expression "one-off" meaning unique. lusy 
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Thanks for the info, Lusy. On the other hand, I got to air one of my pet peeves and shake the beehive  ... always provokes some interesting stuff like your info on the engineering language. wow
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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Yay, lusy!  I thought off. in an auction cat. would mean offered.
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addict
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addict
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Offered? for the Dome-thingy anyway
Rapport was established superficially.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Does anyone know where this use comes from? Is it a corruption of 'of'?
So far as I can work out from other contexts, the "meaning" of 'off' in this case is a reference to the number that are taken "off the machine" after production. It also has the connotation of "off the stores shelf".
The necessity to use this construction lies in the probability that the object being "taken off" is identified by a numerical tag - size, dimensions, parts number or w.h.y, so it is essential to separate the quantity of the good from its numerical tag.
The other (and increaingly popular) way of differentiating in this way is to use "No.", as in "4 No. 30mm x 1550mm strips" if you actually want four of the strips of whatever.
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