[PW] Re: "x" in Rx (prescription)

[Dan Clinton]

I answered this once, but apparently my post didn't make the list.

The R with a tail is a manuscript abbreviation for the Latin "recipe" 
imperative of "recipere", to take, after which, of course, the dr. writes 
the medication and dosage. Originally, this would have included the "recipe" 
for compounding the medicine, which is rarely done these days. The etymology 
is in the American Heritage under "Rx".

Since there was no actual "x" involved, is is definiitely NOT an 
abbreviation of "rex".


Dan Clinton (Contractor)
Technical Services Librarian
U.S. Census Bureau Library
FOB 3, Room 2554
Washington, DC 20233-1980

301-763-6640  (direct line)
301-457-2407  (fax)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Even Flood" <even.flood at gmail.com>
To: <list at project-wombat.org>
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2006 11:19 AM
Subject: [PW] Re: "x" in Rx (prescription)


>> In a message dated 9/18/2006 11:04:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
>> jeanne.schramm at gmail.com writes:
>>
>> >
>> > The patron here is my mother.  She is wondering what the "x" in "Rx"
>> > stands for. She asked her pharmacist and he has no idea.
>>
> For what it is worth, the Wikipedia has an explanation:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rx
> It seems that the Rx was an R with the tail crossed, and somtimes
> stood for Rex, king.
>
> Even
>
> -- 
> Even Hartmann Flood,  Senior Academic Librarian
> Ilevollen 3e
> N 7018 Trondheim, Norway.
> Phone: +47 73 52 53 53/ +47 95 11 58 14
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