Glossary of Pen Terms

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Like any other specialized item, the fountain pen has amassed a lexicon of terms that are unique. And like other jargon languages, fountain pen jargon can be cryptic or confusing. This glossary presents brief definitions for many of the most common pen terms. It is not complete (an impossible goal); but it is a work in progress, and I welcome suggestions for terms to add. (Revised June 20, 2011)

The glossary is organized alphabetically. For numbers, look under the spelled-out form; e.g., for 14K, look under fourteen.

If there is a magnifying-glass symbol () next to an image, click the magnifying glass to view a zoomed version for more detail.

X
x-height	The height of ordinary minuscules. Of interest primarily to calligraphers as a reference in choosing nib sizes. The x-height is determined by the height of the meanline above the baseline and is frequently 5/8 the distance between the baseline and the head line. See also baseline, head line, majuscule, meanline, minuscule. head line meanline x-height baseline
X-Pen	A capillary-filling pen with a hooded nib, sold by Waterman in the late 1950s; supposedly, it was Waterman’s attempt to compete with the Parker 61. Produced in a variety of models at various trim levels by JiF Waterman of France, the X-Pen was the last pen sold by the U.S. Waterman company. Read a profile of the X-Pen here. See also filler, JiF.

The information in this glossary is as accurate as possible, but you should not take it as absolutely authoritative. If you have additions or corrections to this page, please consider sharing them with us to improve the accuracy of our information.