Non-Latin alphabet letters are used to describe the shape of objects
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A reference source confirms that non-Latin alphabet letters, such as the Greek letters upsilon and delta, have been used to describe the shapes of anatomical structures and geographical features.
# Are there examples of non-Latin alphabet letters used to describe the shape of objects?
Tags: alphabets
- Score: 4
- Views: 390
- Answers: 9
- Answered: yes
- Asked by: coderoo (51 rep)
- Asked: 2026-07-10
- Site: linguistics
## Question
English uses a remarkable number of letter names to describe the shape of mechanical and other objects. For example:
A-frame
C-clamp
I-beam
L-couch
O-ring
P-trap
S-hook
T-junction
U-turn
V-engine
W-engine
Y-column
Are there examples of such names with non-Latin-derived alphabet letters?
## Answers
### Answer by Draconis (score: 11)
Yes. The Ancient Greeks named the hyoid bone after the letter Υ (now called "upsilon" but originally called "hy") and the Nile Delta after the letter Δ. Both of those names were later adopted as technical terms in English.
### Answer by maritsm (score: 7)
Yes. In Japanese, the distinctive shape of the character for '10', 十, gives rise to words like 十字路 'crossroads', literally "ten-sign-road" and 十字架 'cross (for crucifixion)', literally "ten-sign-rack".
### Answer by Jeff Zeitlin (score: 7)
As mentioned in one comment to the original question, delta wing is a term in English used in describing aircraft.
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