uppercase

(noun) one of the large alphabetic characters used as the first letter in writing or printing proper names and sometimes for emphasis. Synonyms: capital, capital letter, upper-case letter, majuscule. Example: "Printers once kept the type for capitals and for small letters in separate cases; capitals were kept in the upper half of the type case and so became known as upper-case letters."

(adj) relating to capital letters which were kept in the top half of a compositor's type case. Synonyms: uppercase (vs. lowercase). Example: "Uppercase letters; x and y and z etc."