demy

American  

[dih-mahy] / dɪˈmaɪ /

noun

demies plural

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

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

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

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

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

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demy British  

/ dɪˈmaɪ /

noun

1. 1. a size of printing paper, 17 1/ 2 by 22 1/ 2 inches (444.5 × 571.5 mm)

   2. 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)

2. 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 )

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• demies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of demy

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

Example Sentences

Containing 32 full-page illustrations, 16 of them in colour, Square demy 8vo., cloth.

From War Posters Issued by Belligerent and Neutral Nations 1914-1919 by Various

In Ten Vols. demy 8vo, cloth, £5, 5s.

From A Cursory History of Swearing by Sharman, Julian

When paper was altogether made by hand, the usual paper for books was called demy; and a sheet of demy produced sixteen octavo pages of a book.

From Knowledge is Power: A View of the Productive Forces of Modern Society and the Results of Labor, Capital and Skill. by Knight, Charles

Printing 20 copies of an Act for altering the time of issuing Licenses for keeping of a House of Public Entertainment, ¼ sheet demy, pica type 0  3 4 April     5.

From Toronto of Old by Scadding, Henry

Smaller octavos are—post 8vo, 5��8� in.; demy 8vo, 5��8 in.; crown 8vo, 5�7� in.; cap 8vo, 4��7 in.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various