Algol

¹

[ al-gol, -gawl ]

noun

1. a star of the second magnitude in the constellation Perseus: the first known and most famous eclipsing binary star.

ALGOL

²

[ al-gol, -gawl ]

Computers.

1. a computer language in which information is expressed in algebraic notation and according to the rules of Boolean algebra.

Algol

¹

/ ˈælɡɒl /

noun

1. the second brightest star in Perseus, the first known eclipsing binary. Visual magnitude: 2.2–3.5; period: 68.8 hours; spectral type (brighter component): B8V

Algol

²

/ ˈælɡɒl /

noun

1. a computer programming language designed for mathematical and scientific purposes; a high-level language

Word History and Origins

Origin of Algol¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Arabic, equivalent to al the + ghūl ghoul; as translation of Greek (Ptolemy) gorgónion the head of the Gorgon Medusa, held by Perseus

Origin of Algol²

1955–60; algo(rithmic) l(anguage)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Algol¹

C14: from Arabic al ghūl the ghoul

Origin of Algol²

C20 alg ( orithmic ) o ( riented ) l ( anguage )

Example Sentences

“I just finished Perseus. That there is Algol—the demon star. This here is pretend outer space—or fantasy outer space—so we’re not really interested in arranging the constellations the way they usually appear.”

From Literature

Algol, which means “ghoul’s head,” is actually two stars that orbit each other.

From National Geographic

Algol in the constellation Perseus, rising in the northeastern sky after nightfall near the triangular pattern formed by Capella, Mirfak, and the Pleiades cluster.

From National Geographic

This all followed the exquisite experience of learning Algol using punch cards through the Michigan Terminal System running on Amdahl computers.

From Forbes

The two determined that the dimming of Algol's light occurred exactly every 2.767 days and speculated that an unseen planet was eclipsing the star.

From BBC