Editing Uncial script (section)

==Etymology==
[[File:Schriftzug Unziale.svg|thumb|upright=1.36|Calligraphic writing of the word "Unziale" in a modern uncial hand]]There is some doubt about the original meaning of the word. ''Uncial'' itself probably comes from [[St. Jerome]]'s preface to the [[Book of Job]], where it is found in the form ''uncialibus'', but it is possible that this is a misreading of ''inicialibus'' (though this makes little sense in the context), and Jerome may have been referring to the larger initial letters found at the beginning of paragraphs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=uncial, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more {{!}} Oxford English Dictionary |url=https://www.oed.com/dictionary/uncial_adj?tab=meaning_and_use&tl=true |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=www.oed.com}}</ref>
:''Habeant qui volunt veteres libros, vel in membranis purpureis auro argentoque descriptos, vel '''uncialibus''' ut vulgo aiunt litteris onera magis exarata quam codices.''
:"Let those who so desire have old books, or books written in gold and silver on [[purple parchment]], or burdens {rather than books} written in uncial letters, as they are popularly called."

In classical Latin ''uncialis'' could mean both "inch-high" and "weighing an ounce", and it is possible that Jerome was punning on this; he may conceivably also have been playing with the other meaning of ''codex'', "block of wood".<ref name=":0" />

The term ''uncial'' in the sense of describing this script was first used by [[Jean Mabillon]] in the early 18th century. Thereafter his definition was refined by [[Scipione Maffei]], who used it to refer to this script as distinct from [[Roman square capitals]].