Sort (typesetting)

Diagram of a cast metal sort. a face, b body or shank, c point size, 1 shoulder, 2 nick, 3 groove, 4 foot.
Metal type sorts arranged on a composing stick.

In typesetting by hand compositing, a sort, otherwise referred to as a type, is a block representing a specific letter, digit or other symbol cast from a matrix mould and made with other sorts bearing additional symbols into lines of type to make up a forme from which a page is printed.

References

Other websites