Today's new word--INCUNABULA

This is a word most librarians learn in library school, but I came across it yesterday and realized I'd forgotten--was it an old book, a manuscript or the size of something. Use it or lose it! Incunabula comes from the Latin in cuna "in the cradle," or beginnings, or birthplace of something. In Latin, usually the ending A means it is plural, like "data," so incunabulum is singular, and means a book printed with movable type before 1501. Or, it can be expanded a bit. . .

In a general sense, the term "incunabula" can be used to refer to printed works of a time so early in the history of printing in a given locality that such printing may be said to be in its infancy; thus it is possible to speak of American incunabula, Arizona incunabula, etc. With regard specifically to printing, however, and unless stated otherwise, the term is used to refer to the products of the European press of the 15th century. from Bookbinding and the conservation of books