book hand

noun

: the handwriting designed primarily for legibility and beauty and ordinarily used in officially transcribing manuscripts intended for preservation before printing became common compare minuscule, rustic capital, uncial

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of book hand was in 1885

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near book hand

Cite this Entry

“Book hand.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/book%20hand. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!