Illustration of composing stick
composing stick
noun
: a tray with an adjustable slide that a compositor holds in one hand and sets type into with the other
Examples of composing stick in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Typesetters were highly skilled workers who set by hand each individual letter of type upside-down and backwards on a composing stick, then placed them on the press.
—
Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 5 Sep. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Composing stick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composing%20stick. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share