quire

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a set of twenty-four or twenty-five sheets of paper, traditionally one twentieth of a ream

   The printer ordered a quire of cream-colored paper for the invitations.

2. 2
   noun

   a group of folded leaves nested together as one section of a bound book

   The conservator carefully restitched the loose quire into the old book.

Simplified etymology

Quire has two distinct histories. As a spelling of choir, it reflects the older form derived through Old French quer from Latin chorus and survives in the English Prayer Book. The paper sense originally denoted a small book or pamphlet made from four folded sheets and comes from Latin quaterni, “set of four.”

From Middle English quire, via Old French from Latin quaterni, ‘sets of four,’ referring to sheets folded to make a gathering. This paper term is historically distinct from choir despite their similar modern spelling and sound.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary