Annotation

[Michael Everson]

According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English 
Language, page 1303, in the list of symbols and signs, it indicates 
that a symbol similar to the per-mille sign can be used to indicate 
"salinity". Nice annotation.

Having said that, the etymology of the percent sign given on page 449 
of the New York Public Library's Writers Guide to Style and Usage 
makes me wonder if that salinity and per mille have the same origin.

Apparently the % sign derived from N�/c < numero per cento 'to this 
number in a hundred'. The N was dropped, the c turned to an o, and 
then �/o became %

The question.... :-)
--
Michael Everson * * Everson Typography *  * http://www.evertype.com