English Explanatory Dictionary

printer's devil

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An apprentice printer.

Word forms

printer's devil printer's devils printers' devils

Etymology

Of unclear etymology. The most widely accepted theories are that apprentice printers were often covered in ink, giving them a demonic appearance, or that they were responsible for errors in manuscripts and thus associated with Titivillus, the supposed devil of scribal errors. See Wikipedia for further details.

Derived words

printer's devilry
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