Z

Z, the last letter of the English alphabet, is merely a vocal sibilant; the sound of which is formed by a motion of the tongue from the palate downwards and upwards to it again, with a shutting and opening of the teeth at the same time. This letter has been reputed a double consonant, having the sound ds; and hence we often double it, as in puzzle, muzzle, &c. Among the ancients, Z was a numeral letter, signifying 2000; and with a dash over it thus, $\backslash bar\{Z\}$, signified 2000 times 2000, or 4,000,000. (See ABBREVIATIONS.)