▪ I. lettering, vbl. n.
(ˈlɛtərɪŋ)
[f. letter v. or n.1 + -ing1.]
1. The action of writing letters; letter-writing.
| c 1645 Howell Lett. (1650) II. 118 You may give the law of lettering to all the world. 1681 Disc. Tanger 3 If I exceed the Laws of Lettering, your command is my Apology. 1813 Byron in Moore Lett. & Jrnls. (1830) I. 464, I hate lettering. |
2. The action or process of putting letters upon (anything) by inscribing, marking, painting, gilding, printing, stamping, etc. Also concr., the letters inscribed.
| 1811 L. M. Hawkins C'tess & Gertr. I. 261 The letterings of his books had..afforded her a high hope of pleasure. 1832 G. R. Porter Porcelain & Gl. 241 The dial-plate is complete, with the exception of the figures or lettering. 1869 J. Raven Ch. Bells Cambr. (1881) 12 The rudeness of the lettering seems to suggest an early date. 1877 Act 40 & 41 Vict. c. 60. §3 Such lettering, marking, and numbering shall include the word ‘registered’..and the registered number. 1879 M. E. Braddon Vixen III. 146 The book was to have..a smooth grey linen binding with silver lettering. |
3. attrib. and Comb.: lettering block, -box (see quots.); lettering piece, the piece of leather on which the title of a book is stamped; lettering-tool, ‘a bookbinder's tool for stamping the gilt titles on the backs of books’ (Knight Dict. Mech. 1875).
| 1871 Amer. Encycl. Printing (ed. Ringwalt) 74 *Lettering-block, a piece of wood, the upper surface being rounded, upon which side-labels are lettered. *Lettering-box, the box in which the type are screwed up preparatory to lettering. |
| 1818 Art Bookbinding 30 Working the letters firm and straight on the *lettering-piece. 1880 Print. Trades Jrnl. No. 31. 11 Some account-book lettering-pieces produced..for the trade are certainly wonderful specimens of lettering. |
▪ II. lettering
obs. Sc. form of lectern.