Copperplate

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɑpərˌpleɪt/

Definitions

1. A particular style of script recognized for its graceful curves and precise strokes is commonly created using engraved metal plates in printing techniques
2. This type of handwriting is distinguished by its neatness and flair, often crafted with a pointed implement or brush on various surfaces
3. A calligraphic style known for its elegance and clarity is often produced with special tools on various materials for artistic purposes

Etymology: The engraved copper plate came first, and the handwriting came much later. In the 1660s, "copperplate" named the thin sheet of copper that engravers cut designs into, so that ink could be pressed onto paper from the incised lines. The name is simply "copper" and "plate," a literal description of the material and the tool. From 1817 the word also named the printed sheet itself, the impression pulled from such a plate. By the 1820s it had come to describe the especially fine, clear writing seen in these prints. Engraved lines allowed hairline strokes and sweeping curves that pen-and-ink handwriting of the period could not easily match, so the look of the printed page became the model for an elegant hand. The verb followed in 1822, with the past participle "copperplated" meaning to engrave or print from a copper plate. The style became so closely associated with polished penmanship that the material it was named for has long since been replaced, yet the name has stayed attached to the look of the writing.

Synonyms: engraving, etching, printing plate, copper engraving, copper printing