"Recorde, Robert (1557)
To avoide the tediouse repetition of these woordes: is equalle to: I will settle as I doe often in woorke use, a paire of paralleles, or gemowe [twin] lines of one lengthe: =, bicause noe .2. thynges, can be moare equalle.
In G. Simmons Calculus Gems, New York: McGraw Hill Inc., 1992."