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• hand letter
  hand letter

  noun

  a brass letter, mounted in a handle, for printing on the cover of a handbound book.
• hand-letter
  hand-letter

  verb (used with object)

  to print by hand.

hand letter

¹ American  

noun

1. a brass letter, mounted in a handle, for printing on the cover of a handbound book.

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hand-letter ² American  

[hand-let-er] / ˈhændˈlɛt ər /

verb (used with object)

1. to print by hand.

   She hand-lettered a “for sale” sign.

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Etymology

Origin of hand letter¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Origin of hand-letter²

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

For example, a wedding with 400 guests will take twice the time to hand letter than an event with 200 guests, Ms. Dulles said.

From New York Times • Feb. 23, 2022

In his small garage in the north-eastern suburbs of Berlin, Friedrichs-Friedländer engraves each stone by hand, letter by letter, with a hammer and hand-held metal stamps.

From The Guardian • Feb. 18, 2019

“I learned how to hand letter signs and trucks,” Mr. Boegemann said.

From New York Times • Nov. 21, 2018

Preserving the legacy of a centuries-old artistic tradition and expanding the art of hand letter carving with the beauty and craftsmanship of his own designs.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 28, 2010