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Original · left

Net (mesh)

A meshed textile fabric manufactured from looped, knotted cord used for trapping fish, game, or tennis balls.

First in use: ancient / pre-modern
Duplicate · right

The Net (internet)

Shorthand for the global internet infrastructure connecting billions of computing nodes together.

First in use: the 1980s

Net / Net (mesh) / The Net (internet)

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

Fishing nets vs. the internet.

Which meaning of Net is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Net (mesh) came first (ancient / pre-modern). The Net (internet) arrived in the 1980s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Net (mesh)The Net (internet)
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 · ancient / pre-modern

Net (mesh)

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Duplicate · the 1980s

The Net (internet)

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More duplicated terms

Internet & gaming culture