composing stick

noun

: a tray with an adjustable slide that a compositor holds in one hand and sets type into with the other

Illustration of composing stick

Illustration of composing stick

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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'composing stick.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1659, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of composing stick was in 1659

Dictionary Entries Near composing stick

Cite this Entry

“Composing stick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composing%20stick. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

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