Hornbooks [noun]

And, Captain Borroughcliffe, as you appear to be forgetting the use of your own language, here is even a hornbook for you!

It was difficult to get books in those days, and a hornbook would last a long time.

They also tell of the use of the hornbook and the sun-dial, describe the making of soap and candles, and so forth.

But not to nod over a hornbook at the petty school—not John Shakespeare's son!

His "Gull's Hornbook" is written against coxcombs, and he says their "vinegar railings shall not quench his Alpine resolutions."

At the two upper corners of the page were crosses, hence to read the hornbook was often called "reading a criss-cross row."

The book which succeeded the hornbook in general use was the New England Primer.

I gave him credit both for his ignorance of the very hornbook of honor and for his large share of the milk of human kindness.

For hornbook and primmer for Jenkins' girle to learn to read, 6d.

This like the criss-cross row in the hornbook was originally Christ's cross.