excelsior

From Latin excelsior, comparative of excelsus (“high”). The name of the stuffing material was originally a trademark.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɛkˈsɛlsɪɔː/

excelsior (not comparable)

1. (archaic) Loftier, yet higher; ever upward

excelsior (uncountable)

1. (US printing, dated) The size of type between Norse and brilliant, standardized as 3-point.
2. Stuffing material (as for furniture and mattresses) made of slender, curled wood shavings, as a substitute for hair.
   • 1942, Elliot Paul, The Last Time I Saw Paris, Sickle Moon 2001, p. 91:

     These little mangers, with baby dolls representing Jesus, porcelean Josephs and Marys, wide-eyed cows of papier-mâché, and excelsior for straw, were purchased by pious parents for well-behaved children at Christmas-tide.

• (type size): (UK) minikin

excelsus (“elevated”, “lofty”) +‎ -ior (suffix forming adjectives’ comparative degrees)

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ekˈskel.si.or/, [ɛkˈskɛɫ.si.ɔr]

excelsior (neuter excelsius); third declension

1. higher, loftier, more elevated

Third declension, comparative variant