In assembly, what does `PTR` stand for?

Question

and     dword ptr [ebp-4], 0

In assembly code like above, what does the term PTR stand for? I know their usage -- size directives; but where had the term PTR been coined from? Does it stand for PoinTeR?

I've read:

• What does dword ptr mean?
• x86 Assembly Guide
• Meaning of the [] and PTR operators???

Answer 1

The point of this hint is to tell the size of the operand.

You're writing to a point in memory. As you're only giving a 0, it doesn't know if it should write a byte, or word, or doubleword. The dword ptr means "write a doubleword". Yes, it stands for pointer, because you put a memory address as destination.