An older name for a very large metal or wood type size, equivalent to 44 points. Foundries used this massive size primarily for broadsides, posters, and major display headings rather than body text. It sits just above double great primer and below canon in the traditional sizing scale.
Heard on the job
We need something heavier for the auction poster header, so pull a few cases of meridian.
Insider tip
Because it is so large, meridian type was often cut from wood rather than cast in lead to keep the forms from becoming too heavy to lift.