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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Abacuses

Abacus \Ab"a*cus\ ([a^]b"[.a]*k[u^]s), n.; E. pl. Abacuses; L. pl. Abaci (-s[imac]). [L. abacus, abax, Gr. 'a`bax]

  1. A table or tray strewn with sand, anciently used for drawing, calculating, etc. [Obs.]

  2. A calculating table or frame; an instrument for performing arithmetical calculations by balls sliding on wires, or counters in grooves, the lowest line representing units, the second line, tens, etc. It is still employed in China.

  3. (Arch.)

    1. The uppermost member or division of the capital of a column, immediately under the architrave. See Column.

    2. A tablet, panel, or compartment in ornamented or mosaic work.

  4. A board, tray, or table, divided into perforated compartments, for holding cups, bottles, or the like; a kind of cupboard, buffet, or sideboard.

    Abacus harmonicus (Mus.), an ancient diagram showing the structure and disposition of the keys of an instrument.
    --Crabb.

Wiktionary
abacuses

alt. (plural of abacus English) n. (plural of abacus English)

Usage examples of "abacuses".

On the left, clerks wrote up orders and calculated prices on their abacuses at desks ranged along an aisle that extended to the back of the building.

The furniture too was a strange blend of this and past ages: stainless steel desks and chairs, seated secretaries working with abacuses and inscribing the figures on parchment with quill pens.