hornbook

noun

horn·​book ˈhȯrn-ˌbu̇k How to pronounce hornbook (audio)
1
: a child's primer consisting of a sheet of parchment or paper protected by a sheet of transparent horn
2
: a rudimentary treatise

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hornbook was circa 1595

Dictionary Entries Near hornbook

horn block

hornbook

Horn, Cape

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Hornbook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hornbook. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hornbook

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