F Scott Ophof (X) Nov 7, 2013:

That minus and compound nouns The English-speaking peoples just don't seem to use the minus or plus in such terminology as easily as we Dutch do. We also much more easily build long words. So they have to use 'm above ground level' where we can simply say 'm+mv'. :-)

Totaal niet relevant, maar Freek's 'drill a hole into the heavens' deed me denken aan een (alternatieve) definitie van 'boomstam': een buis die 2 stel 'wortels' met elkaar verbindt.