Etymology - "hornbook"

From: Helen Litwack (hlitwack@LIB.NESL.EDU)
Date: Wed Aug 02 1995 - 14:48:03 PDT

Hello out there.

Does anyone know the origin of the term "hornbook"?
Black's Law Dictionary calls it a "colloquial designation
of the rudiments or general principles of law", but does not
tell me what the origin of the term is, e.g., what the "horn"
in "hornbook" means.

Thanks in advance.

Helen Litwack
Reference Librarian
New England School of Law Library
Boston, Mass.
hlitwack@lib.nesl.edu

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