billions and billions

Date: 2004-07-11 11:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jonny-law.livejournal.com
Having done some web-only research, the French actually created the ambiguity of the definition billion. In 1475 a French mathematician created it to represent 10^12 ([10^6]^2). In 1484 it was redefined as 10^9 ([10^3]^3). In 1550 the rest of the civilized world adopted the definition of 10^12. In 1948 the French reverted to the 10^12 definition, but by then America had adopted the 10^9 definition. Now Britain and Australia are moving towards the 10^9 definition used by America, particularly when used in financial terms.

The OED Online agrees with the later part of this story, so I will accept it as true.
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