What does electrotyper mean?
An electrotyper is a person who makes electrotypes, especially printing plates, or a machine used to produce them. The word belongs to the history of printing: electrotyping used electrical deposition to create a durable metal plate from a master impression, allowing editions to be printed more efficiently than with fragile conventional type. In occupational use, an electrotyper was a skilled craft worker responsible for preparing these plates; in technical descriptions, the same word can refer to the apparatus itself. Today the term is mainly historical or confined to specialist discussions of printing, engraving, and electroforming. It is useful because it names both the worker and the equipment of a process that once played an important part in the production of books, newspapers, and other printed material.
nounA person who makes electrotypes, or a machine used to produce electrotype printing plates by the electroforming process. Electrotypes were used chiefly for producing printing plates and similar metal objects.
- A person whose occupation is making electrotypes or electrotype printing plates.
- A machine or apparatus for making electrotypes.
"The electrotyper carefully prepared a copper plate for the publisher's new edition."
"The electrotyper prepared a copper plate for the publisher's new edition."
"The old electrotyper stood unused in the back of the print shop."
The regular plural is electrotypers.
"Several electrotypers worked in the printing establishment."
Electrotyper belongs to the era when a publisher could turn a master impression into a durable metal printing plate.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does electrotyper come from?
Electrotyper combines the combining form electro-, associated with electricity and ultimately with Greek elektron, meaning “amber,” with typer, from type. The compound refers to the use of electricity in making printing plates or “electrotypes.” Its sense developed within the history of electrotyping, a process for producing metal plates by depositing metal onto a prepared form.
Related word forms
How electrotyper is actually used
This is a specialist and largely historical term, associated with traditional printing and metal-plating processes. In older trade contexts it usually means the skilled worker; in technical descriptions it may refer to the machine.
Easily confused with electrotyper
An electrotype is the resulting metal printing plate, whereas an electrotyper is the person or machine that makes it.
An electrotyper makes printing plates through electroforming, while an electroplater deposits a metal coating on an object or surface.