Back in the day when a printer was a job rather than a machine, lines of text were created by stacking metal bars, each with a letter molded on to the end of it. The letters were kept in two large wooden cases, one for CAPITAL LETTERS, and the other for normal letters.

The cases would be arranged with the normal letters closest to the printer, with the capitals behind, inclined at an angle so they could be reached.

This is where the terms upper case and lower case come from.

Carole has created a delightful page explaining all this, as well as other printing terms which have moved into mainstream English on her Lasting Impressions blog. Go and check it out. There are photos 🙂

Upper Case, Lower Case