demy

[dih-mahy]

noun, plural de·mies.

a foundation scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford: so called because such a scholar originally received half the allowance of a fellow.

(in England) a size of printing paper, 17.5 × 22.5 inches (44 × 57 cm).

a size of drawing or writing paper, 15.5 (39 cm) or 15 × 20 inches (38 × 51 cm) in England, 16 × 21 inches (41 × 53 cm) in the U.S.

Also called demy octavo. a size of book, about 5.5 × 8.75 inches (14 × 48 cm), untrimmed. Abbreviation: demy 8vo

Also called demy quarto. Chiefly British. a size of book, about 8.75 × 11 inches (22 × 28 cm), untrimmed. Abbreviation: demy 4to

Nearby words

Origin of demy

1400–50; late Middle English demi, demy; see demi-

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for demy

Run along now, and ask Demy Miller if he knows his ancient history.
Tom Fairfield's Schooldays|Allen Chapman
At Merton he is a post-master, at Magdalen a demy, so-called because he was entitled to half the commons of a fellow.
Oxford and its Story|Cecil Headlam
The remainder of Dickenss Works were not originally printed in Demy 8vo.
Riding Recollections, 5th ed.|G. J. Whyte-Melville
There we found six great pieces of brass ordinance, mounted upon their carriages, some Demy, some Whole-Culvering.
Sir Francis Drake Revived|Philip Nichols

All things were so curiously and finely wrought, that it seemed either to be the worke of some Demy god, or of God himselfe.
The Golden Asse|Lucius Apuleius

British Dictionary definitions for demy

demy

noun plural -mies

a size of printing paper, 17 1/2 by 22 1/2 inches (444.5 × 571.5 mm)
a size of writing paper, 15 1/2 by 20 inches (Brit) (393.7 × 508 mm) or 16 by 21 inches (US) (406.4 × 533.4 mm)

either one of two book sizes, 8 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches (demy octavo) or (chiefly Brit) 11 3/4 by 8 5/8 inches (demy quarto)

Word Origin for demy

C16: see demi-

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012