Thorn Symbol Þ
The Thorn symbol, represented by the character Þ (uppercase) or þ (lowercase), has a rich history rooted in Old English and Norse languages. Often associated with the unvoiced dental fricative sound (/θ/), the Thorn symbol played a significant role in medieval manuscripts and continues to hold linguistic and historical importance. In this article, we'll explore the origins, evolution, and usage of the Thorn symbol.
Origins and Historical Significance
The Thorn symbol has its origins in runic alphabets and was later adapted into medieval Latin scripts. It represents the unvoiced dental fricative sound, similar to the "th" sound in the English word "think." In Old English, Thorn was used alongside the Eth symbol (Ð) to distinguish between the voiced and unvoiced "th" sounds.
Linguistic Applications
The Thorn symbol was primarily used in Old English and Old Norse, and it holds linguistic significance in the following ways:
- Old English: In Old English manuscripts, Thorn was used to represent the unvoiced "th" sound. Words like "þunor" (thunder) and "þe" (the) featured the Thorn symbol.
- Old Norse/Icelandic: Thorn is part of the Icelandic alphabet and is used in words such as "þjóð" (people) and "þorn" (thorn).
Transition to Middle English
With the transition from Old English to Middle English, the use of the Thorn symbol diminished. This shift was influenced by changes in scribal practices and the introduction of the printing press. As a result, the Thorn symbol was gradually replaced by the letter "y" in Middle English manuscripts.
Representation in Modern Computing
While the Thorn symbol is not commonly found on modern English keyboards, it can be represented using character encoding standards like Unicode (U+00DE for uppercase Þ and U+00FE for lowercase þ). Some word processors and character maps also provide access to the Thorn symbol.
Cultural and Historical References
The Thorn symbol has left its mark on cultural and historical artifacts:
- Medieval Manuscripts: Thorn is prevalent in medieval manuscripts, offering insights into the linguistic practices of the time.
- Language Evolution: The transition from Old English to Middle English marked a shift in the use of characters, with Thorn gradually giving way to other representations of the "th" sound.
The Thorn symbol, with its unique shape and linguistic significance, stands as a testament to the intricate history of written language. While its use has diminished over time, Thorn remains a fascinating character that provides a window into the linguistic richness of Old English and Old Norse manuscripts.
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Thorn Symbol Information
| Symbol Name | Thorn |
| Unicode Version | 1.1 (June 1993) |
| Unicode | U+00DE |
| CSS Code | \00DE |
| HTML Entity | Þ |
| Hex Code | Þ |
| HTML Code | Þ |
| Latex | \TH |
Thorn Symbol Encoding
| UTF-8 | 0xC3 0x9E |
| UTF-16 | 0x00DE |
| UTF-32 | 0x000000DE |
Table of contents
Thorn symbol's PNG and SVG files
How to add thorn symbol via keyboard on different Operating systems
You can type the thorn on most modern devices with the help of following methods:
How to type thorn symbol on Microsoft Word
You can type the thorn on microsoft Microsoft Word using steps mentioned below:
- Place your cursor in the text area where you need to insert the symbol and type 0 0 D E
- Without moving the cursor press keys Alt + x together
- The original 0 0 D E is now transformed into Þ
How to type thorn symbol on Microsoft Windows
You can type the thorn on Microsoft windows using following steps:
- Hold Alt and press to type thorn on your windows machine.
How to type thorn symbol on Mac OS
You can type the thorn on Mac OS using following steps:
- Place your cursor in the text area where you need to insert the symbol
- Press Ctrl + ⌘ Command + ⎵ Space to bring up the Character Viewer. Alternatively, choose Edit ⇒ Emoji & Symbols
- Type “Thorn” in the search field at the top and press Enter
- The symbol should appear. Click on it to insert it into your text
How to type thorn symbol on Linux
You can type the thorn on Linux using following steps:
- Place your cursor in the text area where you need to insert the symbol
- Hold ⇧ Shift + Ctrl and press the letter + U
- Press keys 0 0 D E consecutively
- And then press ↵ Enter , the desired symbol will be added to your document
How to type thorn symbol on IOS and Android
The easiest way to type the thorn on ios and android is to copy and paste it wherever you need it.
How to use thorn in CSS
span {
content: "\00DE";
}
How to type thorn in HTML
<span>Þ</span>
Thorn symbol representation in programming languages
thorn's representation in different programming languages can be found in table below:
| Language | Representation |
| Rust | \u{DE} |
| Ruby | \u{DE} |
| Python | \u00DE |
| PHP | \u{DE} |
| Perl | "\x{DE}" |
| Java | \u00DE |
| Modern JavaScript - Since ES6 | \u{DE} |
| JavaScript | \u00DE |
| Go | \u00DE |
| C# | \u00DE |
| C and C++ | \u00DE |
| Bash and Zsh - inside echo -e | \u00DE |
| RFC 5137 | \u'00DE' |