Why crystal oscillators called XTAL in electronics?

[hurricanehenry]

Curious: Why are crystal oscillators referred to as "XTAL"?

[rjeberhardt]

Good question.  I wonder when the term was first used.

Russell.

[Balaur]

X is the Greek Chi, the first letter of the word Christos - Christ.
In English, X can be used as an abbreviation for Christ (see XMas)

The pronunciation in Greece and in some other Orthodox Est European countries of the "Chris" part is close to the English Crys.
Therefore Crystal => Xtal

[rs20]

C was already used for Capacitor/Condenser.

[singapol]

None of the above...It began in scientific chemistry.How the physical elements are organised and it's
bonding structure...the secrets of nature. As to the X in xtal ,the atoms are connected by lattices so the basic structure is a cross like snowflakes. 

The following may be hard to digest for some:

http://www.chem1.com/acad/sci/aboutwater.html

http://snowcrystals.com/

http://www.gcsescience.com/a13-structure-ionic-compounds.htm

http://www.xtal.iqfr.csic.es/Cristalografia/parte_01-en.html

http://www.chem.ucl.ac.uk/ice/docs/Michaelides_Scheffler_Chapter_Revised_10_Aug_07.pdf

http://www.scienceinschool.org/2012/issue24/crystals

[German_EE]

I was always told that the Xmas thing (and presumably xtal) is because Jesus died on a cross and a letter X is also a cross. I don't know if this is true though.

[singapol]

I was always told that the Xmas thing (and presumably xtal) is because Jesus died on a cross and a letter X is also a cross. I don't know if this is true though.

It is the nature of human beings to associate things they believe in in order to make sense of the reality
and their lives, more myth than facts. Take for instance the invention of the transistor which some attribute to the "generousity" of aliens  truth or myth it's much more then the eye can see. How about US president meeting with aliens to strike a deal of maintaining the power status quo and the famous Roswell incident, are we really unique in this universe.Look out for men in black.