name of List.nub function

[Tom Schrijvers]

On Fri, May 24, 2002 at 10:00:35AM -0700, Brian Huffman wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> This is just for fun, really, but does anyone know how the nub function from 
> the standard List module got its name? (It is the function that removes 
> duplicates from a list, in case you are not familiar with it.) I looked up 
> the word "nub" in the online Merriam-Webster dictionary (www.m-w.com) and it 
> gives:
> 
> 1 : KNOB, LUMP
> 2 : NUBBIN
> 3 : GIST, POINT 

The first result for nub in dictionary.com gives:
nub   Pronunciation Key  (nb)
n.

1. A protuberance or knob.
2. A small lump.
3. The essence; the core: the nub of a story

I think essence is the right meaning, removing all duplicates.
Cheers,
-- 
Tom