foolscap

[prettygoodword]

foolscap - n., a large sheet of writing or printing paper, formerly measuring approximately 13 by 17 inches (chiefly Brit.).


At one point it was a standard size (13 1/4 by 16 1/2 inches for writing paper, 13 1/2 by 17 inches for printing paper, according to one source) but since it stopped being used, it's come to mean any large piece of paper of about that size. Most commonly found now in historical novels. So called because it was formerly made with a fool's cap watermark (possibly).

ETA: Wikipedia has more on the watermark issue.

---L.

Comments

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

I remember using it, but not calling it anything other than "paper."

---L.

[paulakate.livejournal.com]

I never had any idea why big paper was called foolscap. Thanks, Larry!