fat
Preserved but no longer current.
A printer’s term signifying the void spaces on a page, for which he is paid at the same rate as for full or unbroken pages. Occasionally called "grease," and applied variously, but always as showing some undue or uncommon amount of advantage.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “fat” mean?
A printer’s term signifying the void spaces on a page, for which he is paid at the same rate as for full or unbroken pages. Occasionally called "grease," and applied variously, but always as showing some undue or uncommon amount of advantage.
Is “fat” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.