Plural of bookplate; small decorative labels pasted inside the cover of a book to show who owns it.
From 'book' plus 'plate' (a printed or engraved sheet). The practice became popular in the 15th century with the rise of home libraries.
Bookplates became miniature artworks—wealthy collectors hired famous artists to design custom plates, turning a ownership label into a status symbol that said 'I have refined taste AND books.'
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.