Is there a fancy name for these letters that "hang low"?
asked Mar 31, 2011 at 16:48
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4I can remember that in the days of dot matrix printers, any printer that actually printed descenders below the line (as opposed to tucking them up into the 8 by 8 grid the cheaper ones had) was said to possess "hanging doobreys".– Brian HooperCommented Mar 31, 2011 at 17:22
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3 Answers
Yes, they're called descenders, a term which also refers to the part of the letter that dips below the line.
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1To clarify: the descender is the part of the letter that goes below the line. I don't know if there's a one-word term for letters that have descenders.– JSBձոգչCommented Mar 31, 2011 at 16:51
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9@JSBangs: The term "descenders" refers to both - look at the dictionary entry that I linked to in my answer.– psmearsCommented Mar 31, 2011 at 16:53
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They have descenders. I don't think the letters themselves have a name.
Edit: I stand corrected.
a. The part of the lowercase letters, such as g, p, and q, that extends below the other lowercase letters.
b. A letter with such a part.
answered Mar 31, 2011 at 16:51
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1In the link that psmears posted, it said that it refers to both the part that goes below and the letter itself. Commented Mar 31, 2011 at 16:53
Letters like g, p, q and j are called descenders or descending letters.
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2Good answer, especially for noting that these are sometimes also called descending letters. This would be even better if you included a reference or other evidence. Commented Jun 1, 2013 at 7:21