Symbols:Nabla/Linguistic Note

Linguistic Note on Nabla
The term nabla derives from the ancient Greek word νάβλα for a Phoenician harp.

This arises from the shape of the nabla symbol: $\nabla$.

The term was originally suggested by the encyclopedist William Robertson Smith to.

As a result of this suggestion, the term was used in correspondence between and, mainly in a jocular context.

The name gained official traction as a result of its adoption by in his lectures.