A small stand or desk ornament used to hold pens, ink bottles, and writing supplies in an organized way.
From 'stand' + '-ish' (diminutive suffix), emerging in the 16th century as an English term for a writing desk accessory. The 'standish' became popular during the rise of literacy and personal letter-writing in Europe.
A standish is basically the historical predecessor to your desk organizer—before pencil holders and pen cups, fancy people kept their quills and ink in these little ornamental stands, and Miles Standish (a Mayflower pilgrim) is sometimes connected to the name, though the connection is disputed.
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