What is clip art?
Wikipedia, arbiter of truth via consensus, says it best: “Clip art, in the graphic arts, is the use of images either copied or physically cut (hence the term) from pre-existing printed works, either books that have entered the public domain, or books specifically published for such use (which, if they contain images that are not in the public domain, include a license fee in the cover price).” The American Heritage Dictionary defines it as: “Ready-made pieces of printed or computerized graphic art, such as illustrations, borders, and backgrounds, that can be electronically copied and used to decorate a document.” The Oxford English Dictionary, hands down the best dictionary for English or American, defines it thusly: “clip art, n. 1. Pre-printed illustrations, usually published in book format, which are designed to be cut out and used in artwork. {first used 1971} 2. Computing. Ready-to-use digital graphic images for copying and insertion into electronic documents or artwork, provided
