What is the proper name for /

[Bellringer]

I know modern parlance calls it a forward slash (American, I think)
I have heard it called an oblique.
But, wjat is the proper name for it?

[Quizmonster]

Oblique, solidus and virgule - as well as just slash - have all been used.

[jno]

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/virgule

I only use 'forward slash' if there's any possibility anyone might think it's a back slash (ie almost never).

But the thing was seldom given a name until the internet came along; now it's most frequently called a slash or forward slash, as you say, and I suspect this is now the proper name.

[Quizmonster]

To put the matter into an historical perspective, here is the background to the four words I listed earlier. As nouns - ie specifically the name given to the mark / - both oblique and slash were originally Americanisms, first appearing in Webster's Dictionary as such in 1961, some time before the Internet. Virgule and solidus date back in English to the 1830s and 1890s respectively.
The business of 'correctness' today is based on how widespread the usages are. Virgule and solidus are virtually unknown now and, since American English has monopolised language in computing and the Internet...program as opposed to programme, for example...we are more or less obliged to use the commonest one of their usages. That, of course, is slash plus forward or back(ward) as appropriate.

[heathfield]

In my day it was always referred to by the English teacher as an 'oblique stroke'. I cannot recall ever having seen a 'backward slash' until computer programs came on the scene, though it no doubt existed before that
Hmm. ....I'll just go and look up Leonardo da Vinci's original handwriting!

[pbeach]

Solidus or Oblique depending on your definition of Forwards/Backwards. Oblique is an answer today in the DT Cryptic 25741 "Backhanded Slash"

[Beatrice35]

Really enjoyed reading all the posts in this thread- fantastic!! Big hugs to each one of you. This is my symbol meaning angel hugs (i) invented it myself- send people know angel hugs by email put the symbol (i) either side of their name! The dot symbolises the halo whereas the brackets symbolises their wings. So angel hugs(i) to you all here(i) Warm wishes, Beatrice35

[fredpuli47]

Well, (i) Beatrice (i) let's / run it up the flagpole and see whether anyone salutes it / see whether it's accepted and approved.