Points of the law?

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
1

Maybe “points of the law” relates to points on a compass -

“Before the Magnetic Compass was discovered, early map makers would draw a small 16 pointed circle on the map, and place an “N” to point to North. These were the 16 Cardinal Points from which the winds were thought to blow. This drawing was called a “Wind Rose.” When the magnetic compass came along, it was usually set on top of the Wind Rose pattern in order to help face the nautical chart in the proper direction. The wind rose started to become known as a COMPASS ROSE. Since the 1100’s, compass bearings have been split into 16 different directions”

In that scenario, 9 points of 16 becomes a little more than half - i.e. in this phrase possession = a slight presumption of ownership, not an overwhelming one.

Maybe. What do you think? :rolleyes:

2

Link, please.

3

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mpossess910.htm

4
  1. It contradicts the sense of most of the early usages, as far as I can tell.
  2. Originally it was “11 points of the law,” 11/16ths seems completely arbitrary.
  3. By 1678, this version was reported: “Possession is eleven points of the law; and they say there are only twelve.”
5

Wikipedia summarizes Compass rose - Wikipedia cites original references if you wish to persue.

Originally 12 points on Roman compass - so 11 of 12 translates to overwhelming.

However later in middle ages 16 points on compass - and 9 of 16 is not overwhelming, would seem to change intent.

Either way I still like the connection “points” = “directions on a map”, admitedly maybe just pride of aothorship.

6

Can you cite any evidence of a “change of intent”? Can you correlate the change from 12 points to 16 with the change from 11 to 9?

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By the way, welcome to the Dope, PeterinNJ!