writing tabletn.
/ˈrʌɪtɪŋ ˌtablᵻt/, U.S. /ˈraɪdɪŋ ˌtæblət/ 1. A portable tablet used for writing on, typically in the form of a thin, rectangular leaf or sheet of clay, wood, metal, or ivory; (also) a pair or set of such leaves fastened together. Usually in plural. Chiefly historical. Cf. writing table n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > writing materials > material to write on > writing tablet > [noun]
wax-bredc960
tableOE
tabletc1300
writing tablea1451
writing tablet1601
codicil1640
tablette1711
pugillares1729
pugillaries1759
wax tablet1807
tabula1881
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. xxxiii. i. 455 The Poët Homer..talketh of writing tablets, sent ordinarily in stead of letters missive.
1670 J. Ogilby Africa 104 The Roots in former times serv'd in stead of Writing-Tablets, the Juyce of the Stalks wrought into thin Leaves, the Antients wrote upon.
1721 tr. M. Alemán Loves Osmin & Daraxa in Select Coll. Novels VI. 192 Having his Pencil and Writing-Tablets about him, which Men of Quality among the Moors are seldom without, he wrote her this Answer.
1768 Liberal Transl. New Testam. Luke i. 171/1 He then by signs asked for a writing tablet—in which he wrote his name.
1829 J. Murray Pract. Remarks Mod. Paper i. 17 There are writing tablets of ivory, and of wax, and even the backs of tortoises have been used.
1903 J. E. Sandys Hist. Classical Scholarship i. iii. 42 A pair of writing-tablets fastened together by a string.
1989 R. Stokes Bibliogr. Compan. 58 The earliest known examples of the [codex] form were the writing tablets of two or more leaves, of wood or ivory, hinged together by cords or clasps.
2009 Celebrated Pedestrian (2015) iv. 66 This Roman outpost [i.e. Vindolanda]..is famous for the wooden writing tablets found here during the excavations.
2. A pad of paper for writing on; a notepad. Chiefly North American. Cf. tablet n. 1c.
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society > communication > writing > writing materials > material to write on > paper > [noun] > pad of paper
paper-book1548
writing book1580
pad1857
writing block1861
tablet1867
writing tablet1874
writing pad1880
legal pad1882
block1908
1874 Cleveland (Ohio) Daily Herald 20 Aug. 8/5 (advt.) A writing Tablet composed of sheets of the best French Papers, assorted tints. A very convenient thing for travelers.
1917 Harrods Gen. Catal. 296/2 Writing tablets. For Scribbling Memoranda and for School Purposes.
1979 Managem. Notes Nov. 25/1 Get hold of a regular writing tablet, and as ideas occur to you..write them down.
2012 D. Rotenberg Placebo Effect xxvi. 151 Decker dropped into the Staples on Third Avenue and bought a Cambridge writing tablet and a new pen.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).
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