hornbook
hawrn book
- n a primer that provides instruction in the rudiments or basic skills of a branch of knowledge
- He has produced a combined morality play and grimoire, or devil's hornbook, in which every creature is experienced with hilarious or dreadful concreteness.
- Burly Peter might have blundered, but Avis reads Midwinter like a hornbook, makes game of all his plotting work.
- Political Self-Portrait is a kind of rebel's hornbook, full of references to the doctrines and deeds of those who Wheelwright felt have most signally helpedand hindered .