inkstand

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English

Rococo Italian inkstand, from circa 1753, made of silver gilt

Etymology

ink +‎ stand

Noun

inkstand (plural inkstands)

  1. A small tray containing pens and an inkwell; (by extension) a pot for holding ink, inkpot, inkwell.
    • 1765, Laurence Sterne, letter published in Original Letters of the Late Reverend Mr. Laurence Sterne, never before published, London: 1788, pp. 89-90,[1]
      [] if I thought any thing I might hereafter write would be within their reach, I would throw the Manuscript that is now before me into the fire, and never dip my pen into my Ink-stand again []
    • 1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter IX, in Mansfield Park: [], volume II, London: [] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, [], →OCLC, page 189:
      I beg your pardon for being here. I come to look for you, and after waiting a little while in hope of your coming in, was making use of your inkstand to explain my errand.
    • 1864, Eliza Leslie, The Ladies’ Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners: or, Miss Leslie’s Behaviour Book, Philadelphia: T.B. Peterson & Bros., Chapter 1, p. 21,[2]
      If you have no ink with you, the first time you go out, stop in at a stationer’s store, and buy a small sixpenny bottle that will stand steadily alone, and answer the purpose of an inkstand.

Translations

See also