biro
nounUK /ˈbaɪ.ɹəʊ/
Etymology Genericized trademark of BIRO, named after László Bíró, the inventor of the first commercially succesful ballpoint pen.
1
A Biro brand ballpoint pen.
- Biro MARKS A TURNING POINT IN THE HISTORY OF Writing "BIRO" is unique: it writes with a ballpoint — a point that never goes wrong, never floods, bends or splutters — a point that rolls your writing on to the paper with effortless ease. "BIRO" ink dries as you write; you cannot smudge it; you need no blotter. […] Retail price 55/- including purchase tax1945 November and December, Railway Magazine, page v, advertisement:
- Frank's Biro taps delicately at the topmost of the little yellow notes.1993, Iain Banks, Complicity, published 2008, unnumbered page:
2
Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, Broadly Any ballpoint pen.
- Massimo's finger was poised above red on his multi-coloured biro like a kangaroo frozen in headlights.2007, Karen Foxlee, The Anatomy of Wings, page 250:
3
Broadly Ink from a ballpoint pen.
- ‘My very creative 2-year-old son used my good friend′s white polyester Roman blinds as a canvas,’ says Jacqui. They′re now covered in blue biro. And although my friend isn′t too bothered by the biro, I am! Can you help?′2011, Shannon Lush, Jennifer Fleming, Completely Spotless, unnumbered page: