[WRITING vbl. sb. 12 e + TABLE sb.]

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  † 1.  A small thin tablet, sheet, or plate of wood, ivory, or other material for writing (esp. notes or memoranda) upon; a writing-tablet; = TABLE sb. 2 b. Cf. TABLET sb. 1 c. Usu. pl. Obs.

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1526.  Tindale, Luke i. 63. Zacari … axed for wrytynge tables and wroote.

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1589.  Nashe, Pasquill’s Counter-C., A ij b. A newe paire or Writing-tables with profitable Notes for that quarter.

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1625.  K. Long, trans. Barclay’s Argenis, IV. iii. 242. She taketh up her Writing-Tables, in which she writeth these lynes.

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1696.  in Harl. Misc. (1744), I. 512. Writing-tables Paper’s Place supply’d.

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1829.  J. Murray, Pract. Rem. Mod. Paper, 15. The use of lead as the material of the writing table.

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  † 2.  = ESCRITOIRE. Obs.

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1712.  Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 30 Oct. Lady Orkney is making me a writing-table.

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1722.  Lond. Gaz., No. 6119/3. [He] took with him a Writing Table, containing 15 Drawers.

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  3.  A table used, suitable or adapted for writing on, having usu. drawers and other accessories or conveniences.

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1833.  Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 2096. A handsome writing-table, with numerous drawers and divisions for containing papers, money, &c.

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1862–.  [see KNEE-HOLE].

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1891.  Kipling, Light that Failed (1900), 227. Torpenhow brought him the money … and carefully put it away in the writing-table.

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  attrib.  1893.  Mary Cholmondeley, Diana Tempest, I. xi. 241. Do you remember the little pile of account-books that you wound up, and put in your writing-table drawer…?

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  b.  = WRITING-BOARD.

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1875.  Knight, Dict. Mech., 2823. The writing table lets down, exposing a number of drawers, shelves, and pigeon-holes.

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  So Writing-tablet, = prec. 1.

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1829.  J. Murray, Pract. Rem. Mod. Paper, 17. There are writing tablets of ivory, and of wax.

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1831.  Patents (1869), 31. A durable copy book or writing tablet.

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1891.  Smith’s Dict. Antiq., II. 753. Ordinary Greek writing tablets.

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