foolscap

[ foolz-kap ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a type of inexpensive writing paper, especially legal-size, lined, yellow sheets, bound in tablet form.
Chiefly British. a size of drawing or printing paper, 13.5 × 17 inches (34 × 43 centimeters). : cap., fcp.
Also called fools·cap oc·ta·vo [foolz, -kap ok-, tey, -voh, -, tah, -]. a size of book, about 4.25 × 6.75 inches (11 × 17 centimeters), untrimmed.
Also called fools·cap quar·to [foolz, -kap , kwawr, -toh]. Chiefly British. a size of book, about 6.75 × 8.5 inches (17 × 22 centimeters) untrimmed.
fool's cap ( def 1 ).

foolscap

/ ˈ�ڳ�ː��ˌ��æ�� /

noun

a size of writing or printing paper, 13 1 2 by 17 inches or 13 1 4 by 16 1 2 inches
a book size, 4 1 4 by 6 3 4 inches ( foolscap octavo ) or (chiefly Brit) 6 3 4 by 8 1 2 inches ( foolscap quarto )
a variant spelling of fool's cap

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Word History and Origins

Origin of foolscap¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; so called from the watermark of a fool's cap formerly used on such paper

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Word History and Origins

Origin of foolscap¹

C17: see fool ¹, cap ; so called from the watermark formerly used on this kind of paper

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Against this tech-inflected landscape, Thomas Harding’s more than serviceable new biography of George Weidenfeld, long a force of letters in England and briefly in the United States, floats as if on stained foolscap.

From

It consists of calculations etched largely in ink on yellowed leaves of foolscap and squared paper, with 26 pages in Einstein’s handwriting, 25 pages in Besso’s and three containing entries from both scientists.

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The map runs to sixteen laminated foolscap pages, or about ten square feet, when I tile the pages together.

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In the drawer of her bedside locker, she kept a foolscap notebook with marbled cardboard covers.

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I pulled out a new nib and my box of good glossy foolscap paper reserved for special occasions.

From

foolproof fool's cap

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