THE WORD “ODD” The word odd is an English borrowing from Old Norse, the language of the Vikings who settled in parts of England. Its meaning has shifted over time, moving from a geometric concept to a numerical one, and finally to its modern sense of strangeness. Original Meaning: The Point The ultimate source of the word is the Old Norse word oddr or oddi, which had a very concrete, physical meaning: Spear Point / Sharp Edge: Oddr literally meant "point of a weapon" or "spear." Point of Land / Angle: Oddi also referred to a "point of land" or a corner/angle, like the shape of a triangle. Evolution of Meaning: The Third One The path from "point" to "not even" is believed to be a sequence of logical associations based on the idea of something being left over or forming an apex: The Triangle: Because a point of land (or oddi) is often shaped like a triangle, the word came to mean "triangle." The Unpaired Corner: A triangle has three sides/angles. If you pair up two of the corners, the third one (the point/apex) is left over, making it the unpaired or extra one. The Odd Number: This led to the meaning of "a surplus over an even number" or the third number (as in 1, 2, 3). The Old Norse phrase odda-maðr literally meant "the third man" or the one who gives the casting vote (the odd man out). Modern Meaning: Strange The modern sense of "strange, peculiar, or unusual" is the final development, first recorded in the late 16th century. It comes directly from the notion of being: The one left out (the "odd man out"). The one unmatched or unpaired in a set. If something is the unmatched item, it naturally begins to stand out as different from the rest, leading to the meaning of peculiar or strange.