An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

On a graph displaying the results of a measurement, the dash used to indicate the confidence range of the value attributed to a quantity.

Etymology (EN): → error; bar, from O.Fr. barre, from V.L. *barra “bar, barrier,” or perhaps from Gaulish *barro “summit.”

Etymology (PE): Band “that which closes, shuts, blocks,” from
bastan, band- “to shut, bind,” from Mid.Pers. bastan/vastan “to bind, shut,” Av./O.Pers. band- “to bind, fetter,” banda- “band, tie” (cf.
Skt. bandh- “to bind, tie, fasten,” PIE *bhendh- “to bind;” Ger. binden; E. bind); → error.