Tines used to be tynes?

[spave]

Came across this photo in a listing for NOS tines. It's probably a cutting chart from pre 1975 but the weird part is that tine is spelled tyne.

I have never seen tine spelled tyne anywhere else and I was curious if anyone has seen that spelling before? The tine is tapered in the diagram so my guess is that it is from 1969-1971 as I can't imagine tine changing spelling any time after that.

Why would Harold choose that spelling then change it? 

[Alan Lenhoff]

I can't read Harold's mind, but as someone who has worked much of his life as a writer and editor, I couldn't resist a little research. Dictionaries generally do not list "tyne" as an acceptable spelling variant of "tine." But Wikipedia defines "tines" in this way:

"Tines (/ˈtaɪnz/; also spelled tynes), prongs or teeth are parallel or branching spikes forming parts of a tool or natural object.[1] "

The footnote references the Oxford English Dictionary, which I can't access without paying a subscription fee.  Best guess is that "tyne" is an archaic British spelling that the massive and tradition-bound Oxford dictionary still recognizes as acceptable. So, maybe Harold just decided to join the 20th Century.

Alan

[spave]

Interesting backstory on the definition of tines. I guess I never really thought about where the word came from before.

Maybe with Rhodes HQ across the pond now, they'll bring back the old British spelling?