We call them consols because, in the early 1700s, the British Government issued what they called consols or consolidated debt of the British Crown that paid a certain amount of pound sterling every six months forever.

我们称之为公债是因为早在十八世纪初,英国政府规定他们称之为英国皇家,统合公债或者联合公债,要求永久性地,每六个月支付一定数量的英镑

耶鲁公开课 - 金融市场课程节选