[net.roots] the name Bell and the telephone Bell

osman@sprite.DEC (Eric, 617 273-7484, Burlington, Ma. 01803, USA) (08/12/85)

Speaking of the name Bell, I've often wondered:

	Was Alexander's inventing of the telephone the birth of the
	word "bell" to describe the dinger inside the instrument ?

	Or was the word in usage beforehand and this is mere coincidence ?

	/Eric