penwipers

I think the assumption is that elderly women only knit tissue-paper covers, penwipers, and unfashionable garments, nothing anyone with good taste would actually want to use.

Jean's Knitting Jean 2009

Purses are sent to him — penwipers — a portfolio with the Honeyman arms; yea, braces have been known to reach him by the post (in his days of popularity); and flowers, and grapes, and jelly when he was ill, and throat comforters, and lozenges for his dear bronchitis.

The Newcomes 2006

Sheets of quarto paper, each flanked by a pen on One side and a pencil on the other, represented the plates — penwipers did duty for rolls of bread — while ink-bottles stood in the places usually occupied by wine-glasses.

A Tangled Tale 2003

The penwipers are very pretty, and we are very much obliged to you for them.

The Life of Charlotte Bronte 2002

She flounced off with her penwipers, and as we were leaving the church, she was walking up Bayley Lane, her long nose in the air.

To Say Nothing of the Dog Willis, Connie 1997

The roses were still in bloom, and the peonies, destined to serve as prototypes for countless penwipers, were still just coming out.

To Say Nothing of the Dog Willis, Connie 1997

“They have some lovely penwipers in the fancy goods stall,” I said shamelessly.

To Say Nothing of the Dog Willis, Connie 1997

Even penwipers, I thought, leaning my head against the wall.

To Say Nothing of the Dog Willis, Connie 1997

A Grand Design involving the entire course of history and all of time and space that, for some unfathomable reason, chose to work out its designs with cats and croquet mallets and penwipers, to say nothing of the dog.

To Say Nothing of the Dog Willis, Connie 1997

I thought despairingly of the sweet-pea penwipers I would have to purchase.

To Say Nothing of the Dog Willis, Connie 1997