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flyleaf

American  
[flahy-leef] / ˈflaɪˌlif /

noun

  • flyleaves
    plural
  1. a blank leaf in the front or the back of a book.


flyleaf British  
/ ˈflaɪˌliːf /

noun

  1. the inner leaf of the endpaper of a book, pasted to the first leaf

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of flyleaf

1825–35; fly 2 (noun, in combination: something fastened by the edge) + leaf

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

After trimming the nib, the scribe would usually test the pen on a blank piece of parchment or flyleaf to make sure that his letters were legible.

From Salon Oct. 15, 2022

In 1993, his lawyers succeeded in forcing the publisher of a book by Harry Hurt III, “Lost Tycoon,” to add an explanation of the encounter on the book’s flyleaf.

From Washington Post Jul. 14, 2022

Perhaps in the 16th Century it was already hard to read, or the flyleaf was loose?

From BBC Dec. 26, 2020

On the flyleaf of his Infantry Drill Regulations manual, Edward wrote:

From Slate May 16, 2020

On the flyleaf was the inscription, “To Jim from Francis—Christmas ’51.”

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Coupled with the book's status as an enduring object, it makes sense that readers felt drawn to write their names or doodle in the margins and flyleaves of these books.

From Salon Oct. 15, 2022

As evidence they introduced 1,000 Bibles with family histories on the flyleaves, old letters, snuff boxes, muskets, a muzzle-loading shotgun, other heirlooms.

From Time Magazine Archive

To think these laughable flyleaves might have any effect!

From Time Magazine Archive

The reference was to a prisoner at Magdeburg who received a book which contained messages written on the flyleaves in lemon juice.

From Lafayette by Crow, Martha Foote

I probably read my favorite psalm, the 45th; but most of my time I spent writing, on the flyleaves, psalms of my own.

From A Mind That Found Itself An Autobiography by Beers, Clifford Whittingham

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