excelsior

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Pronunciation

• (British) IPA: /ɛkˈsɛlsɪɔː/

Adjective

excelsior (not comparable)

1. (archaic) Loftier, yet higher, more elevated; ever upward
2. more surpassing, more excelling

Noun

excelsior (uncountable)

1. (US printing, dated) The size of type between Norse and brilliant, standardized as 3-point.
2. Stuffing material (as for furniture and mattresses) made of slender, curled wood shavings, as a substitute for hair.
   • 1942, Elliot Paul, The Last Time I Saw Paris, Sickle Moon 2001, p. 91:

     These little mangers, with baby dolls representing Jesus, porcelean Josephs and Marys, wide-eyed cows of papier-mâché, and excelsior for straw, were purchased by pious parents for well-behaved children at Christmas-tide.

Synonyms

• (type size) (UK) minikin

Translations

• French: diamant
• German: Brillant, Viertelcicero
• Italian: diamante
• Spanish: diamante

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