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How come we say counterclockwise and not earthwise? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml
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[โ€“] 18 points 2 years ago (2 children)

The terms for "clockwise" and "Counterclockwise" originated long before clocks. Clockwise was originally called "Sunwise" and followed the movement of the shadow around a sundial.

Counterclockwise was "widdershins", from a Middle Low German phrase meaning "against the way."

We don't use "earthwise" because from our perspective, the earth doesn't rotate.

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  • [โ€“] [S] 1 point 2 years ago* (1 child)

    You know after thinking about this for a while, it actually just makes me want to call it earthwise more.

    And maybe I just have a diffent perspective, but I look up a lot and notice the stars moving while out on walk woth my dogs. Not in real time for anyone trying to start lol. But It's continously in my mind that we're on a spinning rock. And I've played enough NMS to realize that a planet can take perspective from space, but compasses go north and south. And if we're going to debate on which way I would consider which to be right or wrong its moot, because whatever clockwise is earthwise will be opposite. So I just don't get how I'm so wrong.

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