Blackletter
Out of context: Reply #6
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The English term "Black-letter" (afaik) is related to the first gothic translation of the Bible into a germanic language by John Wyclffe (14th century), a pre-reformist. I worked on a paper for Medieval History class about this subject (gothic writing). I need to look for details in the attic but as far as I remember the origin of "black-letter" refers to the first English translation of the Bible (King James Bible) applied to gothic writing and there are many references as to what "black" may have meant, since "black-letter" is a coined 17th word. I'll search my old files for a better explanation. Anyway, in North of Europe translations of the Latin Bible into local languages were popularly known as the "black-letter Wycleff" book, and hence the popular relation to gothic script.