excelsior

¹ American

[ik-sel-see-er, ek-] / ɪkˈsɛl si ər, ɛk- /

noun

fine wood shavings, used for stuffing, packing, etc.
Printing. a 3-point type: a size smaller than brilliant.

excelsior ² American

[ek-sel-si-ohr, ik-sel-see-awr, ek-] / ɛkˈsɛl sɪˌoʊr, ɪkˈsɛl siˌɔr, ɛk- /

adjective

Latin.

ever upward: motto of New York State.

excelsior British

/ ɪkˈsɛlsɪˌɔː /

interjection

excellent: used as a motto and as a trademark for various products, esp in the US for fine wood shavings used for packing breakable objects
upwards

"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

Usage

What else does excelsior mean? Excelsior is a Latin word translated into English as a motto meaning "Ever upward!"Marvel comics legend Stan Lee, who helped create such iconic characters as Spider-Man and the Hulk, famously used Excelsior! as his catchphrase.

Etymology

Origin of excelsior

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; formerly a trademark

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023