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Original · left

Directory (listing)

A phone book or booklet listing residents, businesses, and contact details alphabetically.

First in use: the 1700s
Duplicate · right

Directory (computing)

A hierarchical file system folder containing cataloged collections of computer files and subsidiary folders.

First in use: the 1960s

Directory / Directory (listing) / Directory (computing)

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Canonical todayMeasuring…
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Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Phone books vs. folders.

Which meaning of Directory is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Directory (listing) came first (the 1700s). Directory (computing) arrived in the 1960s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Directory (listing)Directory (computing)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1700s

Directory (listing)

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Duplicate · the 1960s

Directory (computing)

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More duplicated terms

Programming & software