Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Oct 17, 2007 11:34
16 yrs ago
5 viewers *
English term
4-off
English
Tech/Engineering
Military / Defense
Again, this is from the same presentation describing an armoured digger/obstacle remover used in military operations.
Another slide describes the company's activities related to the machine:
- Contract start
- Prototype complete
- Prototype trials
- Manufacture ***4-off*** demonstrators
- Demonstrator trials
- Production
- Deliver vehicle no. 1
Another slide describes the company's activities related to the machine:
- Contract start
- Prototype complete
- Prototype trials
- Manufacture ***4-off*** demonstrators
- Demonstrator trials
- Production
- Deliver vehicle no. 1
Responses
| 3 +4 | Manufacture of 4 machines |
Marie-Hélène Hayles
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| 5 +6 | 4 [items] |
Tony M
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Responses
+4
5 mins
Marie-Hélène Hayles
Native in English
&
English
medicine - chemistry - pharmaceuticals
Native in: English
Works in: Italian to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
Manufacture of 4 machines
I think it's an extrapolation of the common "one-off", meaning a single (unique) example. In this case, they've produced 4 of the end machines (not prototypes) for the demonstrators, before going on to fully fledged production after the trials.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
orientalhorizon
: reasonable
1 min
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| agree |
Tony M
: Actually, it's the other way round: 'one-off' comes from the more general usage
1 min
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Oh right, I didn't know that! I've only ever seen "one-off". (But then I don't go in for military stuff much...) I'd always write 4 x 5 litre buckets, to use your example.
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| agree |
Ken Cox
: and with Tony. AFAIK it is generally UK usage
1 hr
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| agree |
Craig Meulen
2 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks again!!"
+6
8 mins
4 [items]
This has come up before, you may find some other suggestions in the gloss.
Basically, this use of '-off' like this is very common in military and other procurement contexts, in order to make it perfectly clear that one is referring to the quantity of something, and that the figure is not part of the description following.
For example, it is clearer to say "4-off, 5-litre buckets" than to write "4 5-litre buckets", which might be mistake as "45-litre buckets"!
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Note added at 21 mins (2007-10-17 11:55:53 GMT)
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As M-HH says, another way is to write "4 × 5-litre buckets" — but then you can get confusion because of things like: "2 × 8 in planks" — does that mean 2 off planks that are 8" wide, or an unspecified number of 2 in × 8 in planks?
Another way it is sometimes expressed, particularly in tenders and specifications that are not military in origin, is to say "4 no." which is perfectly clear and arguably easier to interpret.
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Note added at 8 hrs (2007-10-17 20:27:58 GMT)
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Oddly enough, I had a notion that it was at least originally US military usage
Basically, this use of '-off' like this is very common in military and other procurement contexts, in order to make it perfectly clear that one is referring to the quantity of something, and that the figure is not part of the description following.
For example, it is clearer to say "4-off, 5-litre buckets" than to write "4 5-litre buckets", which might be mistake as "45-litre buckets"!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2007-10-17 11:55:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
As M-HH says, another way is to write "4 × 5-litre buckets" — but then you can get confusion because of things like: "2 × 8 in planks" — does that mean 2 off planks that are 8" wide, or an unspecified number of 2 in × 8 in planks?
Another way it is sometimes expressed, particularly in tenders and specifications that are not military in origin, is to say "4 no." which is perfectly clear and arguably easier to interpret.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2007-10-17 20:27:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Oddly enough, I had a notion that it was at least originally US military usage
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jack Doughty
: http://www.proz.com/kudoz/2132012
3 mins
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Thanks, Jack!
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| agree |
Marie-Hélène Hayles
3 mins
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Thanks, M-H!
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| agree |
Ken Cox
: same as 4 ea., and you're right, it was asked before, but the glossary search doesn't find it
58 mins
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Thanks, Ken!
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| agree |
Craig Meulen
2 hrs
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Thanks, Craig!
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| agree |
Caroline Moreno
3 hrs
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Thanks, Caroline!
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| agree |
Rachel Fell
: didn't know it was military - always sounds builder/carpenter-speak to me- I didn't mean that to sound as though I was doubtful, it was just my limited experience ;-)
1 day 3 hrs
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Thanks, Rachel! Certainly very common in the building trade, but I believe the origin is almost certainly military / Sure, Rachel, thanks for your sensitivity, but I did get what you meant; I've done a lot of stuff for building & mil. specs. ;-(((
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Discussion