Signal flags vs. Dijkstra's lock.
Which meaning of Semaphore is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Flag semaphore came first (the 1790s). Semaphore (programming) arrived in 1962. The data below shows which one owns the word now.
Wikipedia pageviews since 2015
Flag semaphoreSemaphore (programming)
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
The case for each meaning
Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes
Original · the 1790s
Flag semaphore
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12-mo pageviews—
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Duplicate · c. 1962
Semaphore (programming)
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More duplicated terms
Programming & software
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