foolscap

UK: /ˈfuːlzkæp/ US: /ˈfulzˌkæp/ ,(fo̅o̅lz′kap′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fools•cap /ˈfulzˌkæp/   n. 

1. Printing [uncountable] inexpensive writing paper.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fools•cap  (fo̅o̅lz′kap′), n. 

1. Printing a type of inexpensive writing paper, esp. legal-size, lined, yellow sheets, bound in tablet form.
2. Printing [Chiefly Brit.] a size of drawing or printing paper, 13½ × 17 in. (34 × 43 cm). Abbr.: cap., fcp.
3. Printing Also called fools′cap octa′vo. a size of book, about 4¼ × 6³⁄₄ in. (11 × 17 cm), untrimmed.
4. Printing Also called fools′cap quar′to. [Chiefly Brit.] a size of book, about 6³⁄₄ × 8½ in. (17 × 22 cm) untrimmed.
5. See fool's cap (def. 1).

• so called from the watermark of a fool's cap formerly used on such paper 1690–1700

fool's′ cap′, 

1. Clothing a traditional jester's cap or hood, often multicolored and usually having several drooping peaks from which bells are hung.
2. See dunce cap. 
• 1625–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

foolscap / ˈfuːlzˌkæp/ noun

1. a size of writing or printing paper, 13 by 17 inches or 13 by 16 inches
2. a variant spelling of fool's cap

Etymology: 17th Century: see fool¹, cap¹; so called from the watermark formerly used on this kind of paper

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fool's cap noun

1. a hood or cap with bells or tassels, worn by court jesters
2. a dunce's cap