foil-block
|foil-block|
🇺🇸
/ˈfɔɪlˌblɑk/
🇬🇧
/ˈfɔɪlˌblɒk/
a die for applying foil
Etymology
'foil-block' originates from English, specifically the combination of the words 'foil' and 'block', where 'foil' comes (via Old French) from Latin 'folium' meaning 'leaf' and 'block' comes from Middle Dutch/Old French 'bloc' meaning 'log, block'.
'foil' derived from Latin 'folium' (meaning 'leaf') through Old French 'foil' and entered Middle/Modern English; 'block' came into English from Middle Dutch/Old French 'bloc'. In modern English these two words were combined into the compound 'foil-block' to name a tool used in foil stamping.
Initially, 'foil' referred to a thin leaf (originally of metal or leaf-like material) and 'block' to a lump or carved piece; over time their combination came to denote a specific stamping die used to apply thin metal foil to surfaces.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a metal die or block used in foil stamping (also called foil-blocking) to apply metallic or pigmented foil to a surface by heat and pressure; can also refer to the impression produced by such a die.
The printer used a custom foil-block to add gold accents to the book cover.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/22 06:19