Passe-par-tout′.
1. (Engraving.) An engraved plate or block, forming a frame around an aperture into which any engraved plate or block may be inserted. This is common in wood-engraving, where an ornamental border may be made to do duty with changing central advertisements or labels. It was also adopted a number of years since with the notes of the State Bank of Ohio, when such things were, the inserted blocks representing the names of the several branches. Also understood to be adopted in the national bank-notes. 2. A frame or mat to go around a picture. Frequently a pasteboard border for a picture beneath the glass and within the frame.
