[ILUG] History of /etc ?

[liam at liamohagan.com]

Hi All,

I have a *totally* unimportant but niggling question that I'm 
trying to find an answer to, namely : Where does the /etc 
directory get its name from? 

There are countless docs on the Internet describing what its 
function is and what files one can expect to find there but 
I've yet to find an explanation of its name. If it had been 
called /conf then it would be fairly straightforward but /etc 
is a little non-descript.

Is it the shortened version of "etcetera" or is it an acronym 
or is it something else?

I've heard it pronounced "etcetera", "etsee" and "ee tee see". 
Is one more correct than the others or are all three wrong or 
does it really matter?


Anyone?


Regards,

Liam