Why is number shortened to No. when there is no "o" in number?

[1PrincessPink]

is it because of the French or Spanish nombre?

[boxtops]

It comes from the Latin numero http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numero_sign

[MarkRae]

On the assumption you're not joking: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numero_sign

[1PrincessPink]

actually we should use nr. as short for number as the Germans do. It would make much more sense.

[boxtops]

faster to ue #

[boxtops]

^use

[Prudie]

We use nr for near

[Quizmonkey]

And we don't use # because we're not American :)

[FredPuli43]

And # is what Americans call 'the pound sign' but not meaning an alternative to £.When I used £ on an American site somebody asked 'How did you find that fancy dollar sign on your keyboard?'

[rosamundjohn]

número?