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long primer

American  

noun

Printing.
  1. a 12-point type.


long primer British  

noun

  1. (formerly) a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 10 point

"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

Etymology

Origin of long primer

First recorded in 1590–1600

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.

One sighs at the thought of the miles of "long primer" that would be expended if we had the opportunity of commenting upon such a theme to-day.

From Memoirs of Sir Wemyss Reid 1842-1885 by Reid, Stuart J. (Stuart Johnson)

These notes seem to have been equivalent to about 600 pages of an ordinary crown octavo book printed in long primer.

From The Life of Sir Richard Burton by Wright, Thomas

A size of type between long primer and brevier.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

F. bourgeois of the middle class; hence applied to an intermediate size of type between brevier and long primer: cf.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

He had himself contributed many letters to The Times on subjects of the greatest urgency, but had never attained the dignity even of long primer.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 156, Jan. 1, 1919 by Various