Printing Cliches

Re:Printing Cliches by Hooke on Tuesday June 14, 2016 @02:18AM (#11900137)

A bit of explanation for those, like me, who didn't know about the original meaning of the word "cliché" (courtesy of Wikipedia):

"Cliché and stereotype were both originally printers' words, and in their literal printers' meanings were synonymous. Specifically, cliché was an onomatopoeic word for the sound that was made during the stereotyping process when the matrix (the papier-mâché mold bearing an impression of the forme) hit molten metal. In English this was known as 'dabbing'. The matrix was applied to molten lead at the point of cooling to make the cast."

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Re:Printing Cliches by jonathankoren on Wednesday June 15, 2016 @08:29PM (#11913176)

I never made the connection between the "type" in "stereotype" and "type" as in "typesetting" until today.

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Re:Printing Cliches by carn174s on Thursday June 16, 2016 @01:52AM (#11914278)

Nor had I!

  The combining form “stereo-” that 
  shows up in such words as “stereotype” 
  and “stereophonic” is derived from 
  stereos, a classical Greek word meaning 
  solid.

And then, stereotype:

  A plate relief printing plate cast in a 
  mold made from composed type or an 
  original plate.

So, a solid plate type face. (but not boiler plate)

But now, both stereo and stereotype, their meanings so profoundly mutated well beyond their liteteral origins.

Stereo now pretty much means "2 of something" and stereotype has turned into a word carrying negative connotations of mostly bigotry or prejudice.

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