(formerly) a size of printer's type approximately equal to 18 point
great primer in American English
a large size of printing type, 18 point, formerly used esp. for Bibles
great primer in American English
noun
Printing
an 18-point type of a size larger than Columbian, formerly used for Bibles
Word origin
[1675–85]This word is first recorded in the period 1675–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: denature, explorer, retouch, stoma, upstream