Subject: Etymology of bissextile

From: Pierre Abbat <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2004 22:51:47 -0500

The word "bissextile" literally means "with a doubled sixth". The Romans, 
whose leader Julius Caesar invented the leap day every four years, counted 
days backward from the nones, ides, and calends. The day inserted into 
February is the sixth day before the calends of March, which is February 24. 
As to why he doubled the sixth day, see 
http://www.tondering.dk/claus/cal/node3.html for more details.

phma
-- 
.i toljundi do .ibabo mi'afra tu'a do
.ibabo damba do .ibabo do jinga
.icu'u la ma'atman.