I have also pondered this question, and so was prompted by this message to look it up. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives these definitions for the English-language words:
sinister: 4a n. of, relating to, or on the left side of something. dexter: 1 n. relating to or situated on the right.
So our pedal spindles don't have to speak French after all. The abbreviations work just as well in English. Interestingly (to me, anyway), the markings would also work if the threading on the pedal spindles was the really rare Latin. Middle English and High German also get pretty close, if you have any of those in your parts boxes.
etymologically yours, Dave Ross Portola Valley, CA USA
Group---- I just won the auction of a pair of WAS pedals from Peter Paine. In his description of them, he mentioned that the pedal spindles were marked S and D.. Since I have complete command of the French language and remembered that the word for either left or right began with a D--- , I asked him if they were perhaps French threaded? Voila! They were indeed French Threaded. However, he also had a pair of Campag pedals on auction, and they were also stamped S and D, and were 9/16" thread. Does anybody know what the S and D designation is on pedal spindles? (I understand S and M)
Cheers and Thanks--- Nelson Miller // Seattle // USA