/di muy"/ , n. , pl. demies .
1. a foundation scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford: so called because such a scholar originally received half the allowance of a fellow.
2. (in England) a size of printing paper, 17 1 / 2 × 22 1 / 2 in. (44 × 57 cm).
3. a size of drawing or writing paper, 15 1 / 2 (39 cm) or 15 × 20 in. (38 × 51 cm) in England, 16 × 21 in. (41 × 53 cm) in the U.S.
4. Also called demy octavo . a size of book, about 5 1 / 2 × 8 3 / 4 in. (14 × 48 cm), untrimmed. Abbr.: demy 8vo
5. Also called demy quarto . Chiefly Brit. a size of book, about 8 3 / 4 × 11 in. (22 × 28 cm), untrimmed. Abbr.: demy 4to
[ 1400-50; late ME demi, demy; see DEMI- ]