[Python-3000] sizeof(size_t) < sizeof(long)

[James Y Knight]

On Apr 16, 2008, at 11:00 PM, Greg Ewing wrote:

> If a word is needed for this concept, then invent a new
> one, e.g. "size unit", rather than reusing "byte", which
> everyone already understands as meaning 8 bits.

Nope. Everyone understands "octet" to be 8 bits.

Bytes being exactly 8 bits is itself the redefinition! In the not-too- 
distant-past, some hardware had 9-bit bytes. Common Lisp also uses the  
term "byte" to mean an arbitrary (specified) number of bits. E.g. http://www.lisp.org/HyperSpec/Body/typ_unsigned-byte.html

See also http://dictionary.die.net/byte

James