[Origin uncertain.

1

  Perhaps originating as a jocular antithesis to the summer or upper rail or cross-bar of the hand-printing press (SUMMER sb.2 3 e). Connection with north. dial winter = trivet is uncertain.]

2

  In a hand-printing press, a block of wood about nine inches broad by nine deep, supporting the carriage and having a tenon at each end to fit into corresponding mortices in the cheeks.

3

1683.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, x. ¶ 4. The Length of the Winter besides the Tennants, is one Foot nine Inches.

4

1770.  Luckombe, Hist. Printing, 298.

5

1888.  Jacobi, Printers’ Voc., 156.

6