The symbol you see here that means “prescription” comes from an abbreviation of the Latin word “recipe” meaning “take”, as in the command form of the verb recipere, which means “to hold or contain.” It doesn’t come from a joining of the letters R and x, but rather the slashed line through the “R” was to alert the reader that it was an abbreviation.
Some arguments have been made that the symbol derived from the Ancient Egyptian Eye of Horus – which could bring about healing or protection – or from an Ancient Roman symbol for Jupiter, a deity who was invoked to protect a patient. Evidence is not convincing.
It makes sense that pharmacists would have to read this abbreviation, considering the infamously messy handwriting of the physicians that write out prescriptions.
Sources: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary
