Standardized text or language that is used repeatedly with little or no change, especially in legal documents, contracts, or computer code; or literally, steel sheets used to make boiler drums.
Compound of 'boiler' and 'plate' (from Old French 'plate'). The figurative meaning emerged around 1900 when newspapers literally reused pre-made metal plates for standard advertisements and notices. The metaphor moved into legal and tech language.
Try Another Word