Meanings
nounfoolscap (countable and uncountable, plural foolscaps)
plural foolscaps
- countableuncountablestrictlyWriting paper sheets measuring 13.25 × 16.5 inches.
- countableuncountablemore usuallySuch a sheet folded or cut in half, thus approximately 8 × 13.25 inches.
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.
1892, Walter Besant, chapter II, in The Ivory Gate […], New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →OCLC - alternativecountableuncountableAlternative form of fool's cap.
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
Probably from a watermark of a fool's cap.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Cantonese 夫士喼紙 /夫士喼纸
- 夫士喼紙 /夫士喼纸 (fu¹ si⁶ kep¹ zi²)writing paper sheets measuring 13.25 x 16.5 inches
Italian foglio protocollo, foglio protocollo
- foglio protocollowriting paper sheets measuring 13.25 x 16.5 inches
- foglio protocollosuch a sheet folded or cut in half, thus approximately 8 x 13.25 inches
Russian фулскап
- фулскап (fulskap)writing paper sheets measuring 13.25 x 16.5 inches
Cite this entry
APA
foolscap. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foolscap
MLA
“foolscap.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foolscap. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “foolscap,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/foolscap.
Source: foolscap on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.