Comes off. When the letter in the form delivers a good impression, it is said to come off well; if an ill impression, it is said to come off bad.
Dance. When the form is locked up, if, upon its rising from the composing-stone, letters do not rise with it, or any drop out, the form is said to dance.
Distribute. Is to put the letters into their several places in the case after the form is printed off.
Devil. Mr. Johnson merely calls him the errand-boy of a printing-house; but though he has that office, Holme properly says, that he is the boy that takes the sheets from the tympan, as they are printed off. “These boys,” adds Holme, “do in a printing-house commonly black and dawb themselves, whence the workmen do jocosely call them devils, and sometimes spirits, and sometimes flies.”
Drive out. “When a compositor sets wide,” says Mr. Johnson. Whereto Holme adds, if letter be cast thick in the shank it is said to drive out, &c.
Easy Work. Printed, or fairly written, copy, or full of breaks, or a great letter and small form “pleaseth a compositor,” and is so called by him.
Empty Press. A press not in work: most commonly every printing-office has one for a proof-press: viz., to make proofs on.
Even Page. The second, fourth, sixth, &c. pages.
Odd Page. The first, third, fifth, &c. pages.
Folio. Is, in printer’s language, the two pages of a leaf of any size.