The term "octothorpe" refers to the symbol "#" commonly known as the hashtag. It is used in various contexts, particularly in social media, to categorize content and make it easily searchable. The hashtag allows users to find posts related to specific topics by clicking on or searching for the symbol followed by a word or phrase. The origin of the word "octothorpe" is somewhat unclear, but it is believed to have been coined by Bell Labs employees in the 1960s. The "octo" part refers to the eight points of the symbol, while "thorpe" is thought to be a playful addition, possibly referencing the Olympic athlete Jim Thorpe. Today, hashtags are integral to platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.