black letter — black letter, adj. Print. a heavy faced type in a style like that of early European hand lettering and the earliest printed books. Also called text. [1630 40] * * * or Gothic script or Old English script Style of alphabet used in handwriting… … Universalium
Black-letter — Black let ter, a. 1. Written or printed in black letter; as, a black letter manuscript or book. [1913 Webster] 2. Given to the study of books in black letter; that is, of old books; out of date. [1913 Webster] Kemble, a black letter man! J.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
black letter — early 17c., from BLACK (Cf. black) (adj.); so called to distinguish heavy, old style printers types from the ones coming into use then, which are the dominant modern forms, though a style of black letter was preserved in German into 20c … Etymology dictionary
black–letter — black–let·ter adj: having wide acceptance and great authority and often written down black–letter law Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 … Law dictionary
Black letter — Black let ter The old English or Gothic letter, in which the Early English manuscripts were written, and the first English books were printed. It was conspicuous for its blackness. See {Type}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Black Letter — Black Let|ter [ blæk ] die; , n <aus gleichbed. engl. black letter, zu letter »Buchstabe«> im 16. Jh. in England gebräuchliche gotische Schrift … Das große Fremdwörterbuch
Black letter — (engl., spr. bläck), s. Mönchsschrift … Kleines Konversations-Lexikon
Black letter — Black letter, s. Mönchsschrift … Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon
black letter — n. a kind of heavy faced, ornamental printing type: also called Gothic, Old English, or text … English World dictionary
black-letter — /ˈblæk lɛtə/ (say blak letuh) Printing –noun 1. a heavy faced type in Gothic style like that in early English printed books. –adjective 2. of, relating to, set in, or resembling black letter …