A DICTIONARY,

Alphabetically explaining the abstruse 
Words and Phrases that are used in 
Typography. Which also may serve as 
an Index to direct to the most material 
Concerns contained in this Volumn.

Though I give you a Dictionary of so many 
Words and Phrases as are mentioned in these 
Exercises, yet I do not exhibit this as a Di­
ctionary so perfect, that all the obstruce 
Words and Phrases used among Printers, Letter­
cutters and Founders are here exposed; for Words 
and Phrases many times offer themselves either as 
Discourse or Contemplation occurs: Therefore such 
Words and Phrases as have escaped my Considerati­
on, will, I hope, be discovered by some Printer, or 
others, that may have a kindness for Posterity; not 
only in this Trade, but in all Trades and Faculties 
whatsoever: That so a Dictionary may in time be 
compleated, that may render so great a number of 
Words used in England by English-men intelligible; 
which now for want of a proper Repository to store 
them in, seem not only Aliens to our Nation, but 
barbarous to our understandings.





A

Abreviations  are Characters, or else marks on Let­
ters, to signifie either a Word or Syllable. & is the 
Character for And, ye is The abreviated, yt is That
abreviated; and several other such. Straight stroaks 
over any of the Vowels abreviates m or n. They 
have been much used by Printers in Old Times, to 
Shorten or Get in Matter; but now are wholly left 
off as obsolete.I've removed  lexeme="and(d)" lexeme="that(r)" from the closing form tag and placed them in the xpln tag. MP

Accented Letters  are much used in Latin Authors, 
and more in Greek. The Vowels are only accented, 
and are called Grave, thus accented à; Acute, thus 
accented á; Circumflex, thus accented â; and Deere­
cis, thus accented ä.

Accents  are Dashes or Marks over the Vowels.

Air-hole.  See § 18. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Ascending Gage.  See § 12. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Ashes.  Letter-Founders call the Skimmings of their 
Mettle, and the Sweepings of their House Ashes; 
and save both, to send to the Refiners; who with 
their fierce Fire draw all the Mettle out of the Ashes. 
See Fat Ashes. See Lean Ashes.

Ash-hole.  See § 18. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Assidue  is Thin Brass Plate, such as adorns Bar­
tholomew-Fair Hobby Horses: Founders use it to 
Underlay the Body, or the Mouth-piece, &c. of their 
Mold, if it be too Thin. See § 16.


B

Back of a Composing-stick.  See § 9. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Backside of the Form  is the underside that touches 
upon the Correcting-stone or Press-stone.

Bad Copy.  See § 24. ¶ 4.  Vol. 2.



Bad work.  Any Fault at the Case, or Press, or at 
the Furnace, or at the Dressing-block, &c. is in Work­
mens Language called Bad Work.

Bake.  See § 22. ¶ 10. Vol. 2.

Balls.  See § 24. ¶ 10. Vol. 2.

Ball-knife.  An old blunt-edg'd Knife, that Press­
men lay by, to scrape their Balls with.

Ball-leathers.  See § 24. ¶ 10. Vol. 2.

Ball-Nails.  The Nails that Ball-leathers are Tackt 
to the Ball-stocks with.

Ball-stocks.  See § 11. ¶ 21. Vol. 2.

Balls Take.  See § 11. ¶ 21. Vol. 2.

Beak.  See § 12. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Beam.  See § 12. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Beard of a Letter,  is the outer angle of the Square 
Shoulder of the Shank, which reaches almost up to 
the Face of the Letter; and is commonly scraped 
off by the Founder: As in § 2. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Beard-Gage.  See § 13. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Bearer.  See § 4. & § 24 ¶ 7. Vol. 2.

Beat.  See § 24. ¶ 13. Vol. 2.

Beat Fat.  If a Press-man Takes too much Inck 
with his Balls, he Beats Fat. The Black English Faced 
Letter is generally Beaten Fat.

Beat Lean,  is to Take but little Inck, and often: 
All Small Letter must be Beaten Lean.

Bed.  See § 24. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Benvenue.  See Ancient Customs. Vol. 2.

Bite.  See § 24. ¶ 7.  Vol. 2.

Blankets.  Woollen Cloath, or White Bays, to lay 
between the Tympans.

Blocks.  See § 20. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Block-Groove.  ibid.



Body.  See § 1. ¶ 2. & § 15. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Botching Matrices.  See § 17. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Bottom line.  See § 14. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Bottom of the Matrice.  See § 17. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Bottom Plate.  See § 15. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Bow.  See § 15. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Brace,  is a Character Cast in Mettle thus marked 
{brace} The Compositer is to have these Cast of several 
Breadths, viz. to several numbers of Lines of a de­
signed Body (most commonly of Pica Body) that they 
may hook in or Brace so many Lines as his Copy 
may shew him; as at Charge is a Brace of four 
Lines. See also § 24. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Brass-Rules.  See § 2. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Brayer  is a round Wooden Rubber, almost of the 
fashion of a Ball-stock, but flat at the bottom, and not 
above three Inches Diameter: It is used in the Inck­
Block to Bray or Rub Inck.

Break,  a piece of a Line. Also the Mettle that is 
contiguous to the Shank of a New Cast Letter: This 
Break is formed in the Mouth-piece of the Letter-mould, 
and is called a Break, because it is always broke 
from the Shank of a Letter.

Breaking off  is breaking the Break from the Shank 
of the Letter. See § 19. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Brevier.  See § 2. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Broad-side,  a Form of one full Page, Printed on one 
side of a whole Sheet of Paper.

Broken Letter.  By broken Letter is not meant the 
breaking of the Shanks of any of the Letters, but the 
breaking the orderly Succession the Letters stood in 
in a Line, Page, or Form, &c. and mingling the Let­



ters together, which mingled Letters is called Py.

Bur.  See Rag.


C

Cannon.  See § 2. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Card.  When several Bodies of Letter are Set in a 
Page, Compositers to Justifie that Page to an exact 
Length, put a Card to some White-line, or other 
Break and Lengthen out the Page the thickness of a 
Card. And Press-men also use a Card for an un­
derlay. See § 22. ¶ 4. &c. § 24. ¶ 7.

Cards.  About a Quire of Paper, which Press-men 
use to Pull down the Spring or rising of a Form, 
which it is many times subject to by hard Locking-up. 
See § 24. ¶ 4.

Carriage,  is a part of the Press. For which See § 10. 
¶ 9. Vol. 2. It is also a part of the Letter-Mold: For 
which See § 15. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Case.  See § 3.  Vol. 2.

Case lies.  See § 22. ¶ 1.

Case is full,  viz. a Case full of Letter, wanting no 
Sorts.

Case is Low.  When a Case grows empty, Compo­
siters say the Case is Low.

Case Stands still.  When the Compositer is not at 
Work at his Case, it is said, The Case stands still.

Cassie Paper.  See § 25. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Cast,  is to Cast Letter. See § 19. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Cast off Copy.  See § 22. ¶ 9.  Vol. 2.

Catch of the Bar.  See § 11. ¶ 11. Vol. 2.

Chappel.  See Customs. 



Charge,  is to fill 	
Paper with great Pages. 
a Page with long and many Lines.
a Line with many Letters.
a Pot with Stubs and Antimony.

Chase.  See § 9. ¶ 6. Vol. 2.

Cheeks.  is a part of the Press; for which See § 10. 
¶ 2.  Vol. 2. and part of the Dressing-block-groove. For 
which See § 20. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Choak.  If a Form be not Washt in due time, the 
Inck will get into the Hollows of the Face of the 
Letter: And that getting in of the Inck is called 
Choaking of the Letter, or Choaking of the Form.

Claw of the Sheeps-foot.  See § 11. ¶ 20. Vol. 2.

Clean Proof:  When a Proof has but few Faults in it, 
it is called a clean Proof.

Close Matter.  Matter with few Breaks or Whites.

Close Work.  ibid.

Colation Books.  See § 25. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Come.  When the Face and Shank of a Letter is 
Cast perfect, Founders say, It Comes well; if unper­
fect they say, It does not come, or It comes not well.

Come Down.  the Toe of the Spindle is said to Come 
down by Pulling the Bar: So is the Bar when it is 
Pull'd near the hither Cheek: Also, the Press-man is 
said to Come down the Form with his Balls: For which 
See § 24. ¶ 13. Vol. 2.

Companion.  See § 24. ¶ 15. Vol. 2.

Comes off:  A Form that receives a good Impression, 
Comes off well, if a bad Impression, it Comes off ill, or 
it Comes not well off: Also a phrase used in Gathering 
of Books; for a Heap that is Gathered off is said to 
Come off. See § 25. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.



Composing Rule.  See § 24. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Compositer.  He that Composes or Sets the Letters.

Composing-stick.  See § 9. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Copy-money.  See Customs.

Cording-quire.  See § 25. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Correct.  When the Corrector reads the Proof, or the 
Compositer mends the Faults he markt in the Proof, 
they are both said to Correct; the Correcter the 
Proof, the Compositer the Form.

Correcting-stone.  See § 6. Vol. 2.

Corrections,  the Letters markt in a Proof are call'd 
Corrections. See § 22. ¶ 8. Vol. 2.

Counter Punch.  See § 13. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Counting off Copy.  See § 22. ¶ 9. Vol. 2.

Coyns.  See § 8. Vol. 2.

Cramp Irons.  See § 11. ¶ 15. Vol. 2.

Cross Long, Short.  See Chase.

Cull Paper.  See § 25. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Cut the Frisket.  See § 24. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.


D

Dance.   See § 22. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.

Dele.   See § 23. Vol. 2.

Destribute.   See § 22. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Destributing-stick.  See ibid.

Devil.  The Press-man sometimes has a Week-Boy 
to Take Sheets, as they are Printed off the Tympan: 
These Boys do in a Printing-House, commonly black 
and Dawb themselves; whence the Workmen do Jo­
cosely call them Devils; and sometimes Spirits, 
and sometimes Flies.

Direction,  the word that stands alone on the 
Right Hand in the bottom Line of a Page.



Direction-line.  The Line the Direction stands in.

Double Letter.  æ œ &stlig; &shlig;, and several others Cast 
on one Shank are called Double Letters: &longs; and f have 
several Ascending Letters joyned to them, because 
their Beaks hanging over their Stems would (were 
they not Cast on one Shank) ride upon the tops of the 
Stems of the adjoyning ascending Letter.

Double.  A Sheet that is twice Pulled and lifted 
never so little off the Form after it was first Pulled, 
does most commonly (through the Play of the Joynts 
of the Tympan) take a double Impression: This Sheet 
is said to Double. Or if the Press-man Run in so, as 
the Fore-side of the Plattin Print with the First Pull 
into part of the Second Pull, or the hind edge of the 
Plattin Print with his Second Pull into part of his 
First Pull; either of these twice Printing is called 
Doubling. Doubling also happens through the loose 
Hanging of the Plattin, and through too much play 
the Tennants of the Head may have in the Mortesses 
of the Cheeks, and indeed through many Wearings 
and crasienesses that often happens in several parts 
of the Press. See § 24.¶ 18. Vol. 2.

Dress a Chase, or Dress a Form,  is all one. It is 
to fit the Pages and the Chase with Furniture and 
Quoins. See § 22. ¶ 7.  Vol. 2.

Dress Letter.   See § 21. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Dressing Block.   See § 20. ¶ 3.  Vol. 2.

Dressing Block-groove.  ibid.

Dressing Hook.   See § 20. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Dressing Knife.   See § 20. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Dressing Sticks.   See § 19. ¶ 6. Vol. 2.

Drive out.  When a Compositer Sets Wide, he is said 



to Drive out or Run out. In Founding, If Letter be 
Cast too Thick in the Shank it Drives out, or if it be 
Cast too Thick in any part of the Shank, as the Head, 
the Foot, the sides at Head or Foot, or Body at Head 
or Foot: They say, It Drives out at Head, It Drives 
out at Foot, &c.


E

Empty Case.   See § 22. ¶ 3. & See Case is Low.

Easie Pull.   See § 24. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Easie Work.   See § 22. ¶ 4. And Great Letter and 
a Small Form the Press-man calls Easie Work.

Empty Press.  A Press that Stands by, which no 
Workman Works at: Most commonly every Print­
ing House has one of them for a Proof-Press: viz. to 
make Proves on.

English Body.   See § 1. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

English Face.  Plate 26. 27. are English Face Letters.

Even Page.  The First Page of a Sheet or Form is 
called an Odd Page, but the Second, Fourth, Sixth, 
or any other even numbred Page is called an Even 
Page. See § 22. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.


F

Face of a Letter,   See § 13. ¶ 13. Vol. 2.

Face of a Page, or Form.  The Superficies of a Page 
or Form, where the Faces of every Letter lies in the 
same Plain.

Face-Gage.   See § 12. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Face of a Matrice.   See § 17. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Fat ashes.  Founders call their Ashes Fat, if they 
are considerably Heavy, because then they have 
much Mettle in them.

Fat.  See Beat Fat.



Fat Face, or Fat Letter,  is a broad Stemmed 
Letter.

Female Gage, Screws, &c.  The Hollow Gage, or 
Hollow Screw that receives its Match Gage or Screw, 
&c.

First.   See § 24. ¶ 15. Vol. 2.

First Form.  The Form the White Paper is Printed 
on, which generally by Rule ought to have the First 
Page of the Sheet in it.

First Page.   See § 22. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.

First Pull.   See § 11. ¶ 16. & § 24. ¶ 7. 
Conside­
rations 8 & § 24. ¶ 15. Vol. 2.

Flat-Gage.   See § 12. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Flat Table.   See § 12. ¶ 8. Vol. 2.

Fly.  See Devil.

Follow.  viz. See if it follows, is a Term used as well 
by the Corrector as by the Compositer and Press-man. 
It is used by the Corrector and Compositer when they 
examine how the beginning Matter of a succeeding 
Page agrees with the ending Matter of the precedent 
Page: And how the Folio's of those Pages properly 
and numerically follow and succeed one another, 
Lest the Pages should be Transposed. But the Press­
man only examines that the Folio and beginning word 
of the Second Page, and Signature of the First and 
Third Page (when the Reteration is on the Press) fol­
lows the Folio and Direction of the First Page, and 
the Signature of the Third Page follows the Signature 
of the First Page, orderly according to the Volumne, 
lest the Form should be laid wrong on the Press.

Foot of the Letter.  The Break-end of the Shanck of 
a Letter.



Foot-line.   See § 14. ¶ 12. Vol. 2.

Foot of a Page.  The bottom or end of a Page. See 
§ 22. ¶ 7.

Foot-Step.   See § 11. ¶ 21 & § 24. ¶ 7. Con­
siderations 11. Vol. 2.

Foot-stick.   See § 8. Vol. 2.

Form.  The Pages when they are fitted into a Chase.

Foul Proof:  When a Proof has many Faults markt 
in it.

Fount.  Is the whole number of Letters that are Cast 
of the same Body and Face at one time. See § 2. ¶ 2.
Vol. 2.

Frisket.   See § 10.

Froze out.  In Winter when the Paper is Froze, and 
the Letter Froze, so as the Workmen cannot Work. 
They say, They are Froze out.

Fryer.  When the Balls do not Take, the Un-taking 
part of the Balls that touches the Form will be left 
White, or if the Press-men Skip over any part of the 
Form, and touch it not with the Balls, though they 
do Take, yet in both these cases the White places 
is call'd a Fryer.

Full Form or Page.  A Form or Page with few or 
no Breaks or White-lines.

Full Press.  When two Men Work at the Press. It 
is called a Full Press.

Furnace.   See § 18. Vol. 2.

Furnace open, or Wind Furnace.   See § 18. ¶ 2.
Vol. 2.

Funnel.   See § 18. Vol. 2.

Furniture.   See § 8. Vol. 2.




G

Gage.  Gages mentioned in this Volumne have an 
adjunct Name, as Flat Gage, Joynt Gage, Italick 
Gage, Long Gage, Male Gage, Short Gage, Standing 
Gage, Steel Gage, which See respectively.

Galley.   See § 5. Vol. 2.

Galley-Slave.  See the Customs. 

Gallows.   See § 10. Vol. 2.

Garter.   See § 11. ¶ 14. Vol. 2.

Gather Books.   See § 25. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Geat,  is the little Spout or Gutter made in the Brim 
of Casting Ladles.

Get in.  Matter is Got in in a Line, Page, Sheet or 
Book, if Letter be Thinner Cast than the Printed 
Copy the Compositer Sets by. Or Matter is Got in if 
the Compositer Sets Closer: Or if he Widens his Mea­
sure; or puts more Lines in a Page. See a Line.

Girts.   See § 11. ¶ 21. Vol. 2.

Good Colour.  Sheets Printed neither to Black or 
too White.

Good of the Chappel.  Forfeitures and other Chappel 
Dues are Collected for the Good of the Chappel, viz. 
to be spent as the Chappel approves.

Good Work,  is called so in a twofold sense: The 
Master-Printer calls it Good Work when the Composi­
ters and Press-men have done their duty; and the 
Work-men call it Good Work, if it be Light Easie 
Work, and they have a good price for it.

Go up the Form.   See § 24. ¶ 13. Vol. 2.

Great Cannon.   See § 2. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Great Numbers.  See Lay on. Above 2000 Prin­
ted on one Sheet are accounted Great Numbers.



Great Primmer.   See § 2. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Gutter-stick.   See § 8. Vol. 2.


H

Hag.   See § 15. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Half a Line.  When Letter Drives out or Gets in in 
the Body, in a number of Lines, Founders say, It 
Drives out or Gets in Half a Line, a whole Line, a quarter 
of a Line, &c. viz. Half a Body, a whole Body, a quar­
ter, &c. of a Body.

Half a Press.  When but one Man Works at the 
Press, It is called Half a Press.


Half Work.  He that Works but three days in the
Week, does but Half Work.

Hammer end of a Punch.   See § 13. ¶ 13. Vol. 2.

Hangs.  See Letter Hangs. & § 22. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Hang the Plattin.   See § 24. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Hang up Paper.   See § 25. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Hard Inck.  Inch very well Boyled. See § 11. ¶ 23.
Vol. 2.

Hard Justifying.   See § 22. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Hard Pull.   See § 24. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Hard Work.   See § 22. ¶ 4 And small Letter and 
a Large Form, Press-men call Hard Work.

Head.   See § 10. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Head Line.  See § 14. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Head of a Page.  The top or beginning of a Page. 
See § 22. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.

Head-stick.   See § 8. Vol. 2.

Heap.  So many Reams or Quires as is Set out by 
the Warehouse-keeper- for the Press-man to Wet, is 
call'd a Heap: But then it is call'd a Dry Heap, till 
the Press-man have Wet it, and then it is indeed called 
a Heap. See also § 25.



Heap holds out.  When it hath its full intended 
Number of Sheets.

Heavy Work.  See Hard Work.

Heighth.  See High against Paper.

High against Paper.  If a Punch be not Sunk deep 
enough into the Matrice, the Letter Cast will not 
stand high enough against Paper. And if it be Sunk 
too deep into the Matrice, the Letter Cast will be 
too High against Paper. See § 17. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Holds out, or Holds not out.  These Terms are 
applicable to the Quires of White-paper, to Wrought­
off Heaps, to Gathered Books, and to sorts of Letter 
&c. If Quires of White Paper have twenty five 
Sheets a piece in them, they say, The Paper holds 
out five and twenties. Of Wrought off Heaps, the 
Heap that Comes off first in Gathering is said, Not to 
Hold out. Of Gathered Books, if the intended num­
ber of perfect Books are Gathered, they say the Im­
pression Holds out: But if the intended number of 
Perfect Books cannot be Gathered off the Heaps, they 
say the Impression Holds not out. And so for Sorts of 
Letter, either when it is in the Founding House, or 
in the Printing House.

Hole.  By a Hole, in Printers dialect, is meant and 
understood a place where private Printing is used, 
viz. the Printing of Unlicensed Books, or Printing 
of other mens Copies. Many Printers for Lucre of 
Gain have gone into Holes, and then their chief 
care is to get a Hole Private, and Workmen Trusty 
and Cunning to conceal the Hole, and themselves.
Holy-days. See Customs.

Hollows of a Letter.  The Sinking in of the Coun­



ter-Punch into the Punch makes these Hollows, so does 
Sculping into the Face of the Punch. See § 9. ¶ 4.
Vol. 2.

Hooks.  See Hags.

Horse.  The Form or Bench Press-men set the Heaps 
of Paper on. See also Customs.

Horse-flesh.  If any Journeyman set down in his 
Bill on Saturday Night more Work than he has done, 
that Surplusage is called Horse-flesh: And he abates 
it in his next Bill.

Hose.   See § II. ¶ 14. Vol. 2.

Hours.  Press-men reckon their Work by Hours, 
accounting every Token to an Hours Work: And 
though it be the same effectually with Tokens, yet 
they make their prizes of different Work by the 
Hour; and it passes current for a Token. If two Men 
Work at the Press ten Quires is an Hour; if one 
Man, five Quires is an Hour.


I

Jaws.   See § 15. ¶ 6. Vol. 2.

Imperfections of Books.   See § 25. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Imperfections of Letters.  When the Founder has not 
Cast a proportionable number of each sort of Letter, 
the wanting Letters are called Imperfections, as making 
the rest of the Fount unperfect. See Sorts.

Impose.   See § 22. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.

Impression holds out.  See Holds out.

In-Page.  See Out-Page.

Insertion.  If the Compositer have left out Words or 
Lines, the Corrector inserts it, and makes this mark 
&highcaret; where it is Left out , which is called the mark for 
Insertion. See § 23. Vol. 2.



Joynt flat Gage.   See § 14. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Joynts.   See § 10. ¶ 9. Vol. 2.

Inner Tympan.   See § 11. ¶ 10. Vol. 2.

Italick Gage.   See § 12. ¶ 6. Vol. 2.

Justifie a Matrice.   See § 17. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Justifie a Mold.   See § 16 (p. 146). Vol. 2.

Justifie a Stick.  viz. a Composing-stick. See § 22. ¶ 4.
Vol. 2.


K

Keep in,  is a caution either given to, or resolved on, 
by the Compositer, when there may be doubt of 
Driving out his Matter beyond his Counting off; where­
fore he Sets close, to Keep in.

Keep out,  is a caution either given to or resolved 
on, by the Compositer, when there may be doubt of 
Getting in his Matter too fast for his Counting off: 
Wherefore he Sets Wide, to Drive or Keep out.

Kern.   See § 19. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Kerning-Knife.   See § 19. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Kerning-stick.   See § 19. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Knife backt Sculptor,  is a Sculptor with a thin edge 
on its back.

Knife-file.  A file with a thin edge.

Knock up Balls.   See § 24. ¶ 10. Vol. 2.

Knock up Books.   See § 25. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Knock up a Letter.  It sometimes happens with 
old Letter, that a Letter may be worn so low that 
it will not Print well in a Page: The Workman 
then takes that Letter out of the Form, and holds 
the Shank of it upon the side of the Chase, and with 
the Head of the Shooting-stick beats lightly upon 
the Foot of the Shank, till he have battered Mettle 



enough out of the Shank, to raise it higher against 
Paper: If it prove too high against Paper, he Rubs 
the bottom of the Shank upon the side of the Chase 
to rub it down: This Operation seldom happens, 
unless another of the same sort of Letter is wanting, 
and hard to come by: For else the Compositer will 
bow the Letter, and pop it into a Waste Box in his 
Case, where he puts all naughty Letters, that he 
may not be troubled with them another time.

Knot.   See § 20. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.


L

Ladles.   See § 18. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Lay in Sheets.  When the Press-man lays Sheets 
on the Tympan, it is stiled Laying in Sheets.

Lay out Sheets.  When the Press-man takes Sheets 
off the Tympan, and lays them on the Heap, it is 
stiled Laying out Sheets.

Lay on.  A phrase used for the Number of Books 
to be Printed. Thus they say, There is 1000, 
2000, 3000, &c. Laid on. See Great Numbers. See 
Small Numbers.

Lean ashes.  Founders call their Ashes Lean, if they 
are Light; because then they have little Mettle in 
them. See Fat Ashes.

Lean.  See Beat Lean.

Lean Face.  A Letter whose Stems and other 
Stroaks have not their full width.

Lean Stroaks.  The fine Stroaks in a Letter.

Leather Groove.   See § 17. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Letter-Board.   See § 7. Vol. 2.

Letter Hangs.  If the Compositer has been careless 
in Emptying his Composing-stick, so as to set the Letter 



loosely down in the Galley, and they stand not per­
fectly Square and Upright, the Letter Hangs: Or 
if after Overrunning on the Correcting-stone he has 
not Set his Letter in a Square position again, before 
he Locks up, (for we may suppose when the Pages 
are Open'd the Letter stands Loose, and more or 
less out of Square) So then, the Matter standing 
thus out of Square, is said to Hang. See § 22. ¶ 4, 7.
Vol. 2.

Light Work.  See Easie Work.

Liner.   See § 12. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.

Lining-Stick.   See § 16. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Lock up.   See § 22. § 7. and § 21. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Long Cross.  See Chase.

Long Gage.   See § 12. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Long Primmer.  See § 2. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Long Pull.   See § 24 ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Loose Justifying.   See § 22. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Low against Paper.  See Heighth against Paper.

Low Case.  When the Compositer has Compos'd al­
most all his Letters out of his Case, he says his Case 
is Low. 

Lower Case.   See § 3. Vol. 2.


M

m Thick.   See § 13. ¶ 1.  Vol. 2.

Make a Measure.   See § 22. ¶ 4.  Vol. 2.

Make ready the Form.   See § 24. ¶ 7.  Vol. 2.

Male Gage.  The outer Gage, or outer Screw, that 
enters or fits into its Match Gage or Screw, &c.

Mallet.   See § 9. Vol. 2.

Matrice.   See § 17. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Matter.  The series of the discourse of the Com­
positers Copy.



Measure.  The width of a Page. See Composing­
Stick.

Mettle.   See § 18. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Mold.   See § 15. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Monk.  When the Press-man has not Destributed 
his Balls, some splotches of Inck may lye on one or 
more of them, which in Beating he delivers upon 
the Form; so that the Sheet Printed on has a 
black blotch on it: Which Blotch is ca11ed a 
Monk. 

Mouth-piece.   See § 15. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.


N

n Thick.   See § 13. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Naked Form, or Page,  is when the Furniture is 
taken from about all sides of the Form or Page. See 
§ 22. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.

Neck of a Letter.  So much of the Punch as is Sunk 
into the Matrice is called the Neck; and when that 
Letter is Cast of Mettle, it is so much as comes above 
the Square of the Shank, viz. above the Beard.

Nick.   See § 15. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Nomparel.   See § 2. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Notch of the Matrice.   See § 17. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Notes.  Quotations down the side of a Page are cal­
led Notes.

Number Laid on.  See Lay on.

Nut of the Spindle.  The Female Screw that receives 
the Worms of the Spindle.


O

Odd Page.  The First, Third, Fifth, Seventh, and 
all un-even numbred Pages are Odd Pages. 

Off:  A Press-man usually says, I am off, meaning he 



has Wrought off his Token, his Heap, his Form. 

Open Matter.  Full of Breaks and Whites. 

Open Furnance.   See § 18. ¶ 2.  Vol. 2.

Open the Form.   See § 22. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Open Work.  See Open Matter.

Over-run.   See § 22. ¶ 8. Vol. 2.

Out.  A Compositer usually says, I am Out, meaning 
he has Set out his Page, Form, or Copy. See also § 23.
Vol. 2.

Out-Page.  In Octavo's, Twelves, Sixteens, every 
Out-side Page in the Sheet is called an Out-Page, the 
rest are called In-pages.

Out of Register. Bad Register.   See § 24. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.


P

Pale Colour.  If there be not Blacking enough in the 
Inck, or the Form be Beaten with too Lean Balls, the 
Work will be said to have a Pale Colour.

Pallat.   See § 15. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Pan.  The great Ladle that Founders melt their 
Mettle in, when they are Casting Letters, is called the 
Pan. See also § 9. Vol. 2.

Paper-bench.  See Horse.

Paper-board.   See § 7. Vol. 2.

Paper the Case.   See § 22. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Paper Windows.  See Customs.

Paper up Letter.  Pages. See § 22. ¶ 10. Vol. 2.

Pearl.   See § 2. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Peel.   See § 11. ¶ 22. Vol. 2.

Pelts.  Sheep Skins untan'd, used for Ball Leathers.

Pica.   See §2. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Picks.  When either pieces of the Skin or Film that 
grows on Inck with standing by, or any dirt get into 



the Hollows of the Face of the Letter, that Film or 
Dirt will fill or choak up the Face of the Letter, and 
Print Black; and is called a Pick; because the Press­
man with the point of a Needle, picks it out.

Pidgeon-holes.   See § 22. ¶ 24. Vol. 2.

Plattin.
Plattin-books.
Plattin-pan.   
Plattin-plate. See § 9. ¶ 18. Vol. 2.

Play with Quadrats.  See Customs.

Plow.   See §20 ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Points.   See § 11. ¶ 19. Also , ; : . - ? ! (') 
[ * § †, and other marks, are all by Printers and 
Founders called Points. 

Point-holes.  The two Holes the Points prick in a 
Sheet of Paper. See § 22. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.

Point-Screws.   See § 11. ¶ 9. Vol. 2.

Press.   See § 10. Vol. 2.

Press-man.   See § 24. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Press goes.  When the Press-men are at Work, the 
Press is said to Go.


Press goes Hard, Heavy.   See § 24. ¶ 5. and Press 
goes Easie, Light.

Press stands still.  When the Press-men are not at 
Work, the Press is said to stand still.

Press-stone.   See § 11. ¶ 17. Vol. 2.

Proof:   See § 24. ¶ 18. Vol. 2.

Proof Letters.   See § 16. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Proof Press.  See Empty Press.

Print Hand.  See Plate 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17.

Pull ----- Easie, Long, Short, Soft.   See § 24. ¶ 5.
Vol. 2.



Punch.   See § 13. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Py.  when a Page is broken, those broken Letters 
are called Py. See Broken Letter.


Q

Quadrats.   See § 19. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Quarters.  Quarto's, Octavo's and Twelves Forms are 
Imposed in Quarters. They are called Quarters, not 
from their equal divisions; but because they are Im­
posed and Lockt up apart. Thus half the Short-Cross 
in a Twelves Form is called a Quarter, though it be 
indeed but one Sixth part of the Form.

Quoins.   See § 8. Vol. 2.

Quotation Quadrats,  Are Cast the heighth of the 
Quotation. They are Cast of different Bodies, that the 
Compositer may have choice of them to Justifie his 
Notes or Quotations exactly against the designed Line 
of the Page.


R

Racks.   See § 11. ¶ 22. & § 12. ¶ 19. Vol. 2.


Rag.  When Letter Cast has a Bur on any of its 
edges, that Bur is called a Rag.

Register.   See § 15. ¶ 1. & § 24. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.

Register-sheet.  The Sheet or Sheets Printed to 
make Register with.

Reteration.  The Second Form, or the Form Printed 
on the backside of the White Paper.

Revise.   See § 23. Vol. 2.

Ribs.   See § 10. ¶ 8. & § 11. ¶ 15. Vol. 2.

Riglet.  Is a sort of Furniture of an equal Thickness 
al1 its Length. It is Quadrat high, of several Thick­
nesses, viz. a Nomparel, Brevier, Long-primmer, Pica, 
&c. Thick.



Rince the Form.   See § 22. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Rincing Trough.  The Trough Forms are Rinced in.

Rise.  A Form is said to Rise, when in Rearing it off 
the Correcting-stone no Letter or Furniture, &c. stay 
behind. See § 22. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.

Rounce.   See § 11. ¶ 16. Vol. 2.

Rowl up the Ball Leathers.   See § 24. ¶ 18. Vol. 2.

Rub Letter.   See § 19. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Rubs not.  When the Shank is Cast too Thin, that in 
Rubbing part of the Face or the Topping or Footing 
Rubs away: Founders say, It does not Rub.

Rubs well.  When the Shank of a Letter has a pro­
per Thickness, Founders say, It Rubs well.

Rub out Inck.   See § 24. ¶ 11. Vol. 2.

Rules.  viz. Brass Rules. See § 2. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Run in the Carriage.   See § 24. ¶ 15. Vol. 2.

Runs on Sorts,  when Matter runs much on some 
few Sorts of Letters, they say, it Runs on Sorts, See 
Sorts.

Run out from Copy.  See Drive out.


S

Scaboard.   See § 8. Vol. 2.

Second at the Press.   See § 24. ¶ 15. Vol. 2.

Second Pull.   See § 11. ¶ 16. Considerations 8. & 
§ 24 ¶ 15. Vol. 2.

Sets Foul.  See foul Proof.

Sets Clean.  See Clean Proof.

Sets Close.  See Get in.

Sets Wide.  See Drive out.

Set out Paper.   See § 25. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Set the Rounce.   See § 24. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Sets off.  Work that is newly Wrought off at the Press 



often Sets off especially if it be Fat Beaten with Soft 
Inck: For when it comes to be Beaten, or sometimes 
only hard prest by the Book-binder, the moist Inck 
spreads and delates it self round about the Face of 
every Letter, and sullies and stains the whole White 
Paper.

Shake.   See § 19. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Shank,  the square Mettle the Face of a Letter stands 
on, is called the Shank of a Letter.

Sheeps-foot.   See § 11. ¶ 20. Vol. 2.

Shooting-stick.   See § 9. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Short-cross.  See Chase.

Short-Page.   See § 12. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Side-stick.   See § 8. Vol. 2.

Signature.   See § 22. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Sinck Matrices.  See Sinck Punches.

Sinck Punches.   See § 17. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Slice.   See § 11. ¶ 11. Vol. 2.

Sliding-Gage.   See § 12. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Sliding-Socket.   See § 12. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Small Numbers.  Under 1500 Laid on is accounted 
a Small Number. See Great Numbers; and See Lay on.

Smoak Vent.   See § 18. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Smout.  Workmen when they are out of constant 
Work, do sometimes accept of a Day or twos Work, 
or a Weeks Work at another Printing-house: this 
By-work they call Smouting.

Soaking Pull.   See § 24. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Soft Pull.  ibid.

Soft Inck.  Inck or Varnish moderately boiled. See § 
11. ¶ 23. Vol. 2.

Solace.  See Customs.



Sop the Balls.  When a Press-man has taken too much 
Inck, he is said to Sop the Balls.

Sorts.  The Letters that lye in every Box of the 
Case are separately called Sorts in Printers and Foun­
ders Language; Thus a is a Sort, b is a Sort, c is a 
Sort, &c.

Space Thick, Space Thin.   See § 12. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Spindle.   See § 1. ¶ 12. 16. Vol. 2.

Spirit.  See Devil.

Spring.   See § 15. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Squabble.  A Page or Form is Squabbled when the 
Letter of one or more Lines are got into any of the 
adjacent Lines; or that the Letter or Letters are 
twisted about out of their square Position.

Stem.  The strait Flat stroaks of a straight Letter is 
called Stem. See § 14. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Stick.  The Composing-stick commonly so called.

Stickfull.   See § 22. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Stiff Justifying.   See § 22. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Stirring-Pote.   See § 18. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Stoak-hole.   See § 18. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Stoaking-Rod.  A Rod of thick Wyer put into such 
an Handle as is the Handle of a Letter-Ladle. Foun­
ders use it to stir up the Fire in the Furnace.

Stone.   See § 19. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Stool.   See § 15. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Stop.   See § 19. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Strip a Form.   See § 22. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Stroaks,  are fat, lean, fine, hair. See § 14. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Superiour Letters,  are often set to Marginal Notes: 
They are Letters of a Small Face, high Justifyed by 



the Founder in the Mold near the Top-Line.

Swash-Letters.  See Plate 15.


T

Tache.  A small Board with Notches in its Fore-edge; 
either nailed upon the Fore-edge of the Work-Bench, 
or screwed into the Vice; so as the Notches may stand 
forwards to rest the Shank of a Punch in. See § 12 ¶ 
9. Vol. 2.

Tail of Letters.   See § 14. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Take off:  See Customs.

Taking off:   See § 22. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Take up.   See § 22. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Take up a Sheet.  See Customs.

Take Inck.   See § 24. ¶ 10. Vol. 2.

Teze Wooll, or Hair.   See § 24. ¶ 18. Vol. 2.

Thick Letter.  A Fount of Letter that Rubs not high 
enough into the Neck is called Thick Letter; and con­
sequently will Drive out Matter. See § 17. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Thick Space.   See § 13. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Thin Space,  ought by a strict orderly and metho­
dical measure to be made of the Thickness of the 
seventh part of the Body; though Founders make 
them indifferently Thicker or Thinner.

Throat.   See § 15. ¶ 1. & 6. Vol. 2.

Till.   See § 10. ¶ 6. Vol. 2.

Toe of the Spindle.   See § 11. ¶ 12. Vol. 2.

Token.   See § 25. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.

Token Sheet.   See § 24. ¶ 9. 15. Vol. 2.

Tongue.   See § 20. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

Tooth of the Plow.  The pointed edge that Cuts the 
Groove in the bottom of the Shanks in the Blocks. 
See § 21. ¶ 5. Vol. 2.



Transpose.   See § 22. ¶ 7. & § 23. Vol. 2.

Turn for a Letter.  It often happens when Matter 
Runs upon Sorts, especially in Capitals, or some 
other Sorts seldom used, that the Compositer wants 
that Sort the Matter Runs on; wherefore he is loath 
to Destribute Letter for that Sort; or perhaps his Case 
is otherwise Full. Wherefore instead of that Letter 
or Sort, he Turns a Letter of the same Thickness, 
with the Foot of the Shank upwards, and the Face 
downwards; which Turned Letter being easie to 
be seen, he afterwards when he can accommodate 
himself with the right Sort, takes out, and puts 
the right Letter in its room. It is also a word used 
jocosely in the Chappel, when any of the Workmen 
complain of want of Money, or any thing else, he 
shall by another Workman be answered, Turn for it, 
viz. Make shift for it.

Tympan.   See § 10. ¶ 10. Vol. 2.

Tympan-Cloath.   See § 24. ¶ 18. Vol. 2.

Tympan-sheet.   See § 24. ¶ 7. Vol. 2.


V

Vantage.  When a White-page or more happens in 
a Sheet, the Compositer calls that Vantage: So does 
the Press-man, when a Form of one Pull comes to 
the Press.

Varnish.   See § 11. ¶ 23. Vol. 2.

Visorum.   See § 22. ¶ 4. Vol. 2.

Un-lock the Form.   See § 22. ¶ 2. Vol. 2.

Underhand..  A Phrase used by Press-men for the 
Light and Easie, or Heavy and Hard Running in of 
the Carriage. Thus they say, The Press goes light and 



easie under Hand, or it goes heavy or hard under 
Hand.

Upper Hand,  when the Spindle goes soft and easie, 
the Press-men say, It goes well under Hand, or 
Above Hand. But the contrary if it goes Hard and 
Heavy.


W

Wash the Form.   See §24. ¶ 18. Vol. 2.

Way-goose.  See Customs.

Weak-Inck.  See Soft-Inck.

Wedge.  See § 20. ¶ 3. Vol. 2.

White-line.  A Line of Quadrats.

White-Page.  A Page that no Matter comes in.

White-Paper.  Although the first Form be Printed 
off, yet Press-men erronically call that Heap White­
Paper, till the Reteration be Printed.

Whole-press.  See Full-Press.

Wind-furnace.  See Open-furnace.

Wind-hole.   See § 18. ¶ 1. Vol. 2.

Wood.   See § 15. ¶ 11. Vol. 2.

Wyer.   See § 15. ¶ 9. Vol. 2.


FINIS