foolscap

Probably from a watermark of a fool's cap.

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈfuːl.skæp/, /ˈfuːlz.kæp/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈfʊl.skæp/, /ˈfoʊl.skæp/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

foolscap (plural foolscaps)

1. (strictly) Writing paper sheets measuring 13.25 x 16.5 inches.
2. (more usually) Such a sheet folded or cut in half, thus approximately 8 x 13.25 inches.
   • 1892, Walter Besant, chapter II, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC:

     At twilight in the summer there is never anybody to fear—man, woman, or cat—in the chambers and at that hour the mice come out. They do not eat parchment or foolscap or red tape, but they eat the luncheon crumbs.

3. Printing paper measuring 13.5 inches x 17 inches.
4. Alternative form of fool's cap.

• double foolscap

• legal
• quarto

• Michael Quinion (2004) “Foolscap”, in Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds: Ingenious Tales of Words and Their Origins, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Books in association with Penguin Books, →ISBN.

• (A paper sizes): 2A0   A0   A1   A2   A3   A4   A5   A6   A7   A8   A9   A10