foolscap

See also: fool's cap

English

WOTD – 1 April 2010

Etymology

Probably from a watermark of a fool's cap.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfuːl.skæp/, /ˈfuːlz.kæp/
• IPA^(key): /ˈfʊl.skæp/, /ˈfoʊl.skæp/

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

Noun

foolscap (plural foolscaps)

1. Alternative form of fool's cap
2. (strictly) Writing paper sheets measuring 13.25 x 16.5 inches
3. (more usually) Such a sheet folded or cut in half, thus approximately 8 x 13.25 inches.
   • Template:RQ:WBsnt IvryGt

     At twilight in the summer there is never anybody to fear—man, woman, or cat—in the chambers and at that hour the mice come out. They do not eat parchment or foolscap or red tape, but they eat the luncheon crumbs.

4. Printing paper measuring 13.5 inches x 17 inches.

Derived terms

• double foolscap

Translations

fool's cap — see fool's cap

writing paper sheets measuring 13.25 x 16.5 inches

• Italian: foglio protocollo m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: (special) фулскап m (fulskap)

such a sheet folded or cut in half, thus approximately 8 x 13.25 inches

• Italian: foglio protocollo m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

printing paper measuring 13.5 inches x 17 inches

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

See also

• legal
• quarto

References

• Michael Quinion (2004) “Foolscap”, in Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books in association with Penguin Books, →ISBN.

• (A paper sizes): 2A0   A0   A1   A2   A3   A4   A5   A6   A7   A8   A9   A10