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

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!