mil
UK[mɪl]US[mɪl]
n
A unit of length equal to one thousandth of an inch (0.001 inch), used especially in measuring the diameter of wires.
n
A unit of currency used in several countries, equal to one thousandth of the main unit (e.g., one thousandth of a US dollar or a Cypriot pound).
Etymology
The word "mil" is a modern English shortening of the Latin term "millesimum," which is the neuter form of "millesimus," meaning "thousandth." This Latin root is derived from "mille," meaning "thousand." The term entered English in the 18th century as a convenient abbreviation for technical and financial contexts, specifically to denote a one-thousandth part of a standard unit, whether of length or currency. Its logic is purely mathematical, directly preserving the proportional meaning of its Latin ancestor.
Analysis
The word "mil" is a simplex loanword. It is a clipped form of the Latin word "millesimum," meaning "thousandth part."
Examples
The wire has a diameter of ten mils.
The tax was calculated at 2.5 mils per dollar of assessed value.
In printed circuit board manufacturing, copper thickness is often specified in mils.