Number 8 wire
Encyclopedia
Number 8 wire is a gauge of wire on the British Standard wire gauge
that has entered into the cultural lexicon
of New Zealand
.
It has not been sold under that name for three decades, since it was replaced with the equivalent 4.0 mm wire in the metric system. As such it is still widely used in fencing, mostly in strapping or tie-downs. It is not generally used for line wires, where 2.5 mm high-tensile (formerly 12.5 SWG) is the norm.
Number 8 wire is often used inventively and practically for applications other than for fencing. It is also used as a term that epitomises the "kiwi
bloke" as someone who can turn their hand to anything.
The Waikato Museum
runs an art award named after the wire.
Standard wire gauge
British Standard Wire Gauge is a set of wire sizes given by BS 3737:1964 , and is generally abbreviated to SWG. It is also known as: Imperial Wire Gauge or British Standard Gauge. Use of SWG sizes has fallen greatly in popularity, but is still used as a measure of thickness in guitar strings and...
that has entered into the cultural lexicon
Lexicon
In linguistics, the lexicon of a language is its vocabulary, including its words and expressions. A lexicon is also a synonym of the word thesaurus. More formally, it is a language's inventory of lexemes. Coined in English 1603, the word "lexicon" derives from the Greek "λεξικόν" , neut...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
It has not been sold under that name for three decades, since it was replaced with the equivalent 4.0 mm wire in the metric system. As such it is still widely used in fencing, mostly in strapping or tie-downs. It is not generally used for line wires, where 2.5 mm high-tensile (formerly 12.5 SWG) is the norm.
Number 8 wire is often used inventively and practically for applications other than for fencing. It is also used as a term that epitomises the "kiwi
Kiwi (people)
Kiwi is the nickname used internationally for people from New Zealand, as well as being a relatively common self-reference. The name derives from the kiwi, a flightless bird, which is native to, and the national symbol of, New Zealand...
bloke" as someone who can turn their hand to anything.
The Waikato Museum
Waikato Museum
The Waikato Museum is situated in the city of Hamilton, in the Waikato region of New Zealand.Previously called the Waikato Museum of Art and History, the full name has been shortened in recent years due to the incorporation Exscite, an interactive science centre, and the emphasis on Tangata Whenua...
runs an art award named after the wire.
Further reading
- Bardsley, Dianne, Rural language: No 8 wire Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 20 November 2008.