standfirst n. in British journalism, introductory or summary information above a newspaper article; a kicker (U.S.); a précis. Editorial Note: Sometimes wrongly used as a synonym with lead (or lede), which is part of the article whereas a standfirst is not. The content of the May 6, 2003, citation is made of in-house editing notes which ordinarily would not pass through the editorial process onto the news wires. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Penny in Savannah, Georgia, recalls that her father, a Navy veteran who served in the South Pacific, would say of someone who was clueless or didn’t know what he was talking about: That person doesn’t know if he’s punched, bored...
Asthenosphere, a geologist’s term for the molten layer beneath the earth’s crust, sparks a journey that stretches all the way from ancient Greece to the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Plus: What the heck is a dogberg? It’s when...