Talk:Descending wedge

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	Logic

Source of name[edit]

Is there a reliable source for the name "vel" for this symbol?

I know that some writers claim that the origin of the symbol is the Latin word vel, which means or, but I haven't seen any good evidence for this. Certainly, Russell and Whitehead, who introduced the symbol, did not mention the Latin word and did not even call it the "or" operator or function [1]. And in any case, the usual Latin abbreviation for vel was not v, but a barred l, something like ł,[2][3] or occasionally u [4]. --Macrakis (talk) 22:16, 31 July 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I've looked into this a bit more, and I have found a few reliable sources which use the name "vel":

For the symbol 2003
For the "logical or" operation or function itself 1986 2009 2006 1982
To emphasize its meaning as an inclusive or (vel) as opposed to an exclusive or (aut) 1970
As an explanation for the shape of the symbol, but not as its name 1998
As a way of pronouncing "logical or" in a formula 1997
I have not found any references in the typographical literature to the name "vel".

At this point, it seems clear that, though logical or is sometimes written as the word "vel", and is sometimes pronounced "vel", there is no reason for WP to call the symbol ∨ 'vel'. I will be bold, rewrite, and move. --Macrakis (talk) 19:00, 3 August 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Well, I must say that I also learned that the symbol "v" comes from "vel", which makes perfectly sense. (You mention 'u' but seem to forget that for the Romans 'u' was written 'V', which was not a separate letter!). Now fortunately there is still a redirect from "Vel" to here, but no more any mention in the article. I'll be bold and and a note. — MFH:Talk 22:29, 22 November 2020 (UTC)[reply]