Upper Case

[John David Cavanaugh]

In article <13154 at brl-adm.ARPA> dsill at nswc-oas.arpa (Dave Sill) writes:
>Trivia Question: What is the origin of `uppercase'?

In the old days, before laser printers, printing was done by assembling
cast (or carved) letters of type into lines.  The letters were kept in
compartmented boxes (which may sometimes be seen today holding cornhusk
dolls and lima beans).  The "big" letters were kept in one case, the
"little" letters in another.  The upper case held the big letters, the
lower case held the little letters.  Thus the capitol letters came to be
called "upper case" letters by printers.

John Cavanaugh                           John.Cavanaugh at StPaul.NCR.COM
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