Obs. [OE. bócstæf corresp. to OS. bôcstaƀ (MDu. boekstaf), OHG. buohstab (MHG. buochstap, mod.G. buchstabe), ON. bókstafr (Sw. bokstaf, Da. bogstav). Cf. Goth. *bôkastafs, ‘letter (of the alphabet),’ f. bôk writing-tablet, book + staf- staff, letter; according to some, orig. ‘beech-staff,’ but see BOOK. This interesting old word, still in full use in continental languages, survived in English only to the 13th c., when it was superseded by letter. Its modern form would have been bookstaff or buckstaff, as a connection with book was or was not explicitly retained.] A letter (of the alphabet).
a. 1000. Elene, 91 (Gr.). Se blaca beam bocstafum awriten.
c. 1200. Ormin, 4305. Writenn o Grickisshe boc Rihht wiþþ bocstafess sexe.
c. 1205. Lay., 7637. Feole cunne boc-stauen æ ðere hilte wes igrauen [not in later text].
