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In lugnet.space, Larry Pieniazek wrote:
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In lugnet.space, Felix Greco wrote:
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Help me out, though. Everyone throws this ‘mk’ stuff around. I realize its
some way of saying its the second version, but what does it stand for?
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It’s short for “Mark” which is a term that’s been used for at least 150 years
in the military (and elsewhere?) to denote advances or upgrades. As to where
it originates, I am not sure. Maybe something to do with marking progress?
Definition 7C of Mark gives this
(http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=mark)
Mark A particular mode, brand, size, or quality of a product, especially a
weapon or machine.
A quick Google(tm) search for the etymology didn’t find anything though,
probably because I wasn’t using good search terms.
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I wish I had my references to hand, but here’s what I’m given to understand from
my background:
“Mark” refers to the point in progressive development where a system or piece of
equipment is “frozen”--sort of like the “high water mark” or the “fifty-yard
mark.” You’ll note that “mark” always modifies some other term; this indicates
the lineage in which said device or vehicle represents a “mark”--usually the
reference also specifies a role or a purpose (“infantry rifle,” “main battle
tank,” and so forth), which is why it is so often used for military hardware.
Over time it has come to mean “model” more broadly, but the original purpose
came from the earliest days of mass-production of military hardware to indicate
a specification that was interchangeable with others of its type and had known
capabilities. Consider it a point of calibration in a longer timeline.
Interestingly the use of the word “mark” tends to be much more British than US.
Japan has long used a term that transliterates into “type” and is not
necessarily sequential, and Germany also eliminated the word for “mark” but kept
subdivisional manufacturing terms. Perhaps the affinity for “mark” has to do
with the way in which military industries developed in the Empire, where
patterns had to be kept quite consistent and manufacturing data coordinated
quite carefully.
best
LFB
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Paladin mk2 Hardsuit
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| (...) It's short for "Mark" which is a term that's been used for at least 150 years in the military (and elsewhere?) to denote advances or upgrades. As to where it originates, I am not sure. Maybe something to do with marking progress? Definition 7C (...) (20 years ago, 30-May-04, to lugnet.space, lugnet.build.mecha, FTX)
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