uncial

uncial · adjective¹

1. Latin · derived fromū̆ncia“a twelfth part, ounce, inch”
2. English todayuncial

Attested 1650, from Latin ū̆ncia (“a twelfth part, ounce, inch”) + -al.

uncial · adjective, noun²

1. Late Latin · derived fromunciales“uncials”
2. English todayuncial

Attested 1712, from Late Latin unciales (“uncials”), unciales litterae (“uncial letters”) (Jerome), plural of uncialis (“pertaining to one twelfth part, ounce, or inch”), from uncia (“one twelfth part, ounce, inch”). The literal meaning is unclear: some references indicate "inch-high letters", but see “Uncial script” in Wikipedia.

Words from the same roots