Formerly Book of common places (see COMMON-PLACE sb. 3): orig. A book in which ‘commonplaces’ or passages important for reference were collected, usually under general heads; hence, a book in which one records passages or matters to be especially remembered or referred to, with or without arrangement.
1578. Cooper, Thesaurus, Introd. A studious yong man … may gather to himselfe good furniture both of words and approved phrases … and to make to his use as it were a common place booke.
1599. Marston, Sco. Villanie, III. xi. 226. Now I haue him, that … Hath made a common-place booke out of playes, And speakes in print.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., III. x. 176. A Common-place-book contains many notions in garrison, whence the owner may draw out an army into the field.
1668. Hale, Pref. Rolle’s Abr. I have commended the making and using of a Commonplace-Book, as the best expedient that I know, for the orderly and profitable study of the Law.
a. 1794. Gibbon, Autobiog., 83. I … filled a folio commonplace-book with my collections and remarks on the geography of Italy.
1837–9. Hallam, Hist. Lit., II. II. i. 35, note. They … registered all his table-talk in commonplace-books alphabetically arranged.
