interjection
excelsior
ehk-SEHL-see-aw
interjection
1
A rallying cry meaning "ever upward," used to urge continued progress.
"Comic-book fans know "Excelsior!" as Stan Lee's famous sign-off."
noun
1
Fine curled wood shavings used as packing or stuffing material.
"The vase arrived packed in excelsior to stop it from breaking."
How to Use Excelsior
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a "keep climbing higher" battle cry, or the wood-shaving packing material.
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Comic-book fans know "_____!" as Stan Lee's famous sign-off.
Etymology
From Latin excelsior, "higher," the comparative of excelsus ("high"). The rallying-cry sense comes from Longfellow's 1841 poem "Excelsior" and was later popularized by Marvel editor Stan Lee.