Ablegen
(Ger.) Distribute, it’s more “lay down”. Distribute is Verteilen,
Agate
Type with a 5 1/2-point body.
[cite: Type specimens : ornaments, borders, corners, brass rules, emblems, body type /...
Bas de casse
(French) lowercase. Muggles persist to say “minuscules”.
Brevier
Type on an 8-point body.
[cite: Type specimens : ornaments, borders, corners, brass rules, emblems, body type /...
Brilliant
Type on a 3 1/2-point body.
[cite: Type specimens : ornaments, borders, corners, brass rules, emblems, body type /...
Capitale, une
(French) Capital. Always abridged in “cap” (“Tu me passes tout ça en caps”). Muggles persist...
Cassetin, le
(French) Name for a small compartment in a type case
Chase
An iron or steel frame, in which forms are locked, so that they may be held firmly on the bed of the chase.
[cite:...
Châssis, le
(French) The chase
[cite: American Dictionary of Printing and Bookmaking (1894)]
Cheeks
In a wooden hand-press, the main upright posts into which the other heavy pieces were fastened…
[cite: American...
Contre-poinçon, le
(French) The counter-punch
[cite: Typographical Printing Surfaces (1916)]
Cran, le
(French) Nick. In France it is on the top of the letter (and so at the bottom in the composing stick…)
Diamond
Type on a 4 1/2-point body.
[cite: Type specimens : ornaments, borders, corners, brass rules, emblems, body type /...
dis
one of the most hated jobs as a apprentice compositor to dis the type, distribute (dis) it back into the case.
Dresser
The person who finishes type with vertical kerns.
[cite: Practical Typecasting, Rehak, 1993]
Drive
The depth of the character within the matrix; measured from the bearing surface of the matrix to the casting surface of...
Espace fine
Une espace fine (fem.) is the French term for a fine space, normally espace is mascular, but the typographicel space...
Espace, une
(French) Space. The typographical term ‘espace’ is feminine, contrary to the word for ‘space’...
Excelsior
Type on a 3-point body.
[cite: Type specimens : ornaments, borders, corners, brass rules, emblems, body type /...
Fleuron
Typographical ornament, generally small, sometimes in the shape of a flower, used to mark text openings and other...
Flong
Papier-mâché molds (and later, rubber and phenolic resin) used for stereotype printing of set type and illustrations.
Frisket
On a hand press, the thin metal frame, hinged to the tympan, that protects the margins of the paper from becoming...
Galley
Can refer to the proof of hand set text, image, figures, etc., or the tray in which the proof is set up.
(cite:...
Grotesk
(Ger.) Sans- serif, grotesque or gothic
Hauteur en papier, la
(French) Type height. Originally 10 lignes et demie (23,69 mm), but in fact 23,56 mm since the metric system.
Hell Box
A box for damaged type, and ruined lino slugs.
Job Font
Standard commercial working font, primarily for proofing and sundry projects.
[cite: Practical Typecasting, Rehak...
Konterstempel, der
(Ger.) The counter-punch
[cite: Typographical Printing Surfaces (1916)]
linke seite
(Ger.) Verso
[cite: Typographical Printing Surfaces (1916)]
Long Primer
Type on a 10-point body.
[cite: Type specimens : ornaments, borders, corners, brass rules, emblems, body type /...
Minion
Type on a 7-point body.
[cite: Type specimens : ornaments, borders, corners, brass rules, emblems, body type /...
Nachdruck
(Ger.) Reprint
[cite: American Dictionary of Printing and Bookmaking (1894)]
Nick
A groove cast into the body of a type for purposes of identification…
[cite: Practical Typecasting, Rehak, 1993]
Nomperiglia
(Ital.) Nonpareil, but slightly larger than ours.
[cite: American Dictionary of Printing and Bookmaking (1894)]
Non Coupé
(Fr.) Uncut; the leaves not cut open for reading.
[cite: American Dictionary of Printing and Bookmaking (1894)]
Nonpareil
A small type much used in book and job offices and on newspapers. In size it is between agat and minion, and equals in...
Norm
(Ger.) The signature.
[cite: American Dictionary of Printing and Bookmaking (1894)]
Numbering Machine
A mechanical appliance for numbering or paging purposes.
[cite: American Dictionary of Printing and Bookmaking (1894)]
Numéroteur
(Fr.) Numbering Machine
[cite: American Dictionary of Printing and Bookmaking (1894)]
Octavo
A sheet of paper folded into eight leaves. Commonly speaking, it is restricted to the size obtained by folding sheets...
Offset
That portion of ink which leaves a newly printed sheet and is deposited on another sheet…
In Australia...
OFMI, une
(French) The usual term for a Heidelberg Windmill (from the name of the French Heidelberg importer...
Oktav
(Ger.) Octavo.
[cite: American Dictionary of Printing and Bookmaking (1894)]
Old Pelt
An appellation for an old pressman in bygone days.
[cite: American Dictionary of Printing and Bookmaking (1894)]
Open Matter
A term employed by printers to express fat and well-leaded work. It also stands for work having many blanks.
[cite:...
Orla
(Sp.) Border.
[cite: American Dictionary of Printing and Bookmaking (1894)]
Out of Sorts
When a certain letter has been set out, the case having no more, the compositor is said to be out of sorts.
[cite:...