- A Burman measure of twelve miles.
V () V, the twenty-second letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal
consonant. V and U are only varieties of the same character, U being
the cursive form, while V is better adapted for engraving, as in stone.
The two letters were formerly used indiscriminately, and till a
comparatively recent date words containing them were often classed
together in dictionaries and other books of reference (see U). The
letter V is from the Latin alphabet, where it was used both as a
consonant (about like English w) and as a vowel. The Latin derives it
from it from a form (V) of the Greek vowel / (see Y), this Greek letter
being either from the same Semitic letter as the digamma F (see F), or
else added by the Greeks to the alphabet which they took from the
Semitic. Etymologically v is most nearly related to u, w, f, b, p; as
in vine, wine; avoirdupois, habit, have; safe, save; trover,
troubadour, trope. See U, F, etc.
Definition
[ n.]