How Long is a Fourscore? A Comprehensive Tech Geek‘s Guide to Understanding This Historical Reference

Hey there! Terry Williams here, back with another fun etymology explainer for you all. I don‘t know about you, but I‘ve always wondered about the phrase "four score and seven years ago" used by Abraham Lincoln. Like, why didn‘t he just say 87 years ago? What is a "score" anyway? Well, I decided to geek out and do a deep dive into the historical meaning and usage of "score" as a number reference. Grab your abacus and let‘s count it down!

Counting by Twenties – The Origin of "Score"

Humans have used counting systems based on different numbers, but counting in base-20 was common across many ancient cultures. Why 20 specifically? A few theories:

• Easy to count on fingers and toes (we have a total of 20 digits combined)
• Convenient number for simple tallying and recording counts
• Prevalent use of vigesimal (base-20) systems by early civilizations

Some examples of vigesimal systems include the Aztec, Mayan, Celtic, and French civilizations. By using our fingers to count in groups of 20, people found it straightforward to tally and track quantities.

Over time, this grouped set of 20 evolved into the word "score" to represent that amount. We still see influences today – for example, the French word for 80 is quatre-vingts meaning "four twenties".

The Score on Scores

Let‘s breakdown the key scoring terminology:

• Score: 20
• Threescore: 3 x 20 = 60
• Fourscore: 4 x 20 = 80
• Fivescore: 5 x 20 = 100

Back in Lincoln‘s time, using "scores" in place of actual numbers was common. Can you imagine if today we said "Two-and-a-Half Scores and Seven Years Ago"? Sounds very poetic but also confusing!

As an example from literature, in Shakespeare‘s play Othello (1604), Iago refers to Othello as "three-score" years meaning he is 60 years old.

Why 20 Stuck as a Score

Now you may be wondering why 20 specifically got labeled as a "score". The etymology is unclear, but "score" derives from the Old Norse word skor meaning "notch" or "tally." Some theories on why 20 was used for a grouped tally:

• Early counting systems favored base-20 numbers
• Easy to track with our 20 fingers and toes
• Simple way to carve notches on wood or bone in sets of 20
• Relatable quantity for everyday use (tracking possessions, animals, etc.)

Regardless of why it emerged, calling 20 a "score" became very common. It was an easy shorthand for referring to that number set.

Counting the Years – Biblical References

The Bible contains several references to "scores" of years that reinforce how this terminology was used in Lincoln‘s time:

"The days of our years are threescore years and ten." (Psalm 90:10)

"And Abraham was a hundred and seventy-five years old when he died." (Genesis 25:7)

Here we see threescore (60) and fivescore (100) used to describe lifespans. Since average life expectancies were lower in ancient times, reaching one‘s "threescore and ten" (70) years was considered a full life.

Based on research of skeletal remains, the average life expectancy during Biblical eras was estimated to be somewhere between 20-40 years old. Reaching elderly age was difficult and relatively rare.

Therefore, speaking of someone‘s age in "scores" of years emphasized the symbolic importance of reaching these milestones, especially in the context of Biblical patriarchs like Abraham living over 100 years.

Lincoln‘s Use of Rhetorical "Score"

Now we arrive back at Lincoln‘s iconic phrase "Four score and seven years ago," uttered in his 1863 Gettysburg Address. We know a "score" is 20 years, so "four score and seven" = 80 + 7 = 87 years. Lincoln was referring back 87 years from 1863 to America‘s founding year of 1776.

But why did Lincoln choose to say "four score and seven years ago" rather than just stating 87 years ago?

Well, as a skilled speechwriter and orator, Lincoln knew that rhetorical flourish and poetic language could emphasize his points. By evoking the founding fathers and Declaration of Independence through this deliberate wording, Lincoln reminds the nation of their shared origins and history.

He taps into familiar Biblical phrasing to add gravitas and pyramid his points. And his repetition of "score" keeps the cadence while implying the symbolic importance of the numbered years themselves.

In short, Lincoln used this creative phrasing because:

• It connected to Biblical familiarity with "scores" as higher quantities
• Created rhetorical flourish and poetic rhythm to the speech
• Evoked historical origins of America‘s founding principles
• Reinforced the solemn nature of the occasion at Gettysburg

Pretty cool how a few strategically chosen words can totally transform a speech!

Scores Over the Years

While using "scores" for numbers largely faded out in the 1800s, we still see some influences in modern language:

• Expressions like "score big" meaning to achieve major success
• Sports scores keep track of points/runs/goals
• "Keeping score" persists in games and competitions
• Some French/Spanish words still reflect base-twenty (for example quatre-vingt for 80)

So next time you hear about someone "scoring" or reach a big "score" in a video game, you can think back to the early roots of counting by twenties!

A Tech Geek‘s Perspective

As a technologist living in the digital age, it‘s fascinating to see how counting systems, terminology, and language evolve over decades and centuries. While vowel shifts and terms like "score" for 20 may fade away, new phrases and lingo emerge all the time.

From programmer slang like "kludge" to social media acronyms like FOMO, our shared language is always expanding. And the rise of digital recording and data analytics means quantifying information in standard ways is more important than ever.

So in some ways, those early score counters and notch tally keepers weren‘t so different from the numbers geeks of today! We‘re all just trying to make sense of the world using the tools and terms available in our time.

But of course, technology has also changed how we capture and discuss numbers. Can you imagine doing complex data analysis without modern computers and software? It‘s wild how innovations like spreadsheets, programming, and algorithms enable us to crunch numbers and identify insights faster than ever.

While base-twenty math may be obscure today, it left its linguistic imprint. And who knows – with advancements in quantum computing and AI, we may yet discover whole new modes of quantifying our world!

The Long and Short of It

In the end, Lincoln‘s clever use of the antiquated phrase "four score and seven years ago" packed rhetorical flair that still resonates centuries later. By tapping into the Bible-echoing familiarity of counting in "scores," this iconic phrasing reminds us of America‘s origins while underscoring the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality.

So next time you hear references to "threescore" or "fourscore," you can impress your friends by explaining the history behind it! Language holds so much hidden depth, and those layers of meaning reveal key insights into the cultures that shaped our shared tongue.

I had a blast geeking out on linguistic history with you. Let me know if you have any other fun etymology topics you‘d like me to explore next! This is Terry signing off for now.