Re: 'Fortran' is the word an acronym or a portmanteau?

Kevin G. Rhoads wrote:
RADAR is from Radio Automatic Detection And Ranging --
classic acronym, using initial letters from words in a phrase.

My understanding has always been that it is RAdio Detection And Ranging (no Automatic).

Now "Sonar" as a derived word from sonic/sound and the acronym RADAR is real hybrid
(or perhaps chimera) of a word. Anyone know an appropriate (lexicographically, that
is) descriptor for "sonar"?

SOund Navigation And Ranging, is how I've always understood it.

(Wikipedia agrees with me on both, though that's naturally not necessarily a definitive reference.)
.

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