pilcrow arch.
(ˈpɪlkrəʊ)
Forms: 5 pylcraft(e, pilecrafte, 6 pilcrowe, (7 pilkrow, pill-crow, peelcrow, pilgrow), 6– pilcrow.
[App. for pilled crow: cf. pilcorn, pilgarlic, etc. The application of the word, with the form pylcraft, has suggested that it originated in a perversion of paragraph, through pargrafte, *parcrafte, etc.: cf. quots. c 1460 and 1617. But the history of the word is obscure, and evidence is wanting.]
= paragraph n. 1.
| [1500 Ortus Voc., Paragraphus, Anglice, a pargrafte in writing.] c 1440 Promp. Parv. 398/1 Pylcrafte, yn a booke..asteriscus, paragraphus. c 1460 Medulla in Way Promp. Parv. 398 note, Paragrapha, pylcraft in wry[t]ynge. 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 2 In husbandrie matters, where Pilcrowe ye finde That verse appertaineth to Huswiferie Kinde. 1602 R. T. Five Godlie Serm. 18 To stand as a Cypher in Augrim, or as a pilcrow in a latine Primmer. 1617 Minsheu Ductor, Pilkrow, contractum videtur corruptumque ex paragrapho. a 1625 Fletcher Nice Valour iv. i, But why a Peel-crow here?.. A Scar-crow had been better. 1706 Phillips, Pilcrow, an old Word for a Paragraph. 1897 S. S. Sprigge T. Wakley xv. 141 The leading article..calling attention to them with interjections..and all sorts of verbal pilcrows. |