printer's devil en · NOUN
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.
Meanings
-
(dated) An apprentice printer.
The latest of the personal magazinettes to come under our observation is The East Side, a peculiarly New York product, of which Zoe Anderson Norris, of 338 East Fifteenth street, is printer's devil […]
1909, The Independent, volume 67, page 711:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| printers' devils | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| printer's devils | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Translations (2)
ga giolla clódóra (apprentice printer) · pl pomocnik drukarza (apprentice printer)
wikipedia: Titivillus · wikipedia: Printer's devil#Etymology