chap-book
Noun: A "chap-book" is a small, inexpensive booklet or pamphlet that was popular from the 16th to the 19th centuries, typically containing ballads, folk tales, religious tracts, or popular literature. It was sold by peddlers (called "chapmen") and was a common form of cheap entertainment and education for common people.
- (A small booklet of popular literature sold cheaply in the past.)
- (Old, inexpensive pamphlets are prized by collectors.)
- (Small booklets were used for mass dissemination of literature.)
"A chap-book of ballads": a specific collection of folk songs or poems.
- He found a chap-book of ballads in his grandmother's attic, dating back to 1820. (A small booklet containing traditional songs.)
"Chap-book literature": the body of works published in this format.
- Scholars study chap-book literature to understand the reading habits of the lower classes. (The genre of cheap, popular publications.)
Chapman (n): a peddler or hawker who sold chap-books and other goods.
- The chapman traveled from village to village, selling his wares. (A traveling seller.)
Chap-book style (adj): resembling the simple, crude printing and content of chap-books.
- The artist's illustrations have a chap-book style, with rough lines and folk themes. (Imitating the aesthetic of old pamphlets.)
- Pamphlet: a small, unbound booklet, often on a topical subject.
- Broadsheet: a large sheet of paper printed on one side, often containing ballads or news, similar in purpose but larger.
- Catchpenny: a cheap, sensational publication designed to sell quickly.
"A chap-book's worth": an old expression meaning something of very little value.
- He paid only a chap-book's worth for the antique. (A very small amount of money, as chap-books were extremely cheap.)
"To peddle chap-books": to engage in a humble or low-level trade of ideas or goods.
- In his youth, he peddled chap-books before becoming a famous author. (Sold cheap booklets as a street vendor.)