1. a book printed before 1501, especially from the earliest period of printing with movable type
Usage: often used in plural as 'incunabula'; formal, bibliographic term
2. the earliest stage or beginning of something; infancy or origin
Usage: figurative use; often used in plural

Examples

• The library's collection of incunabula includes rare volumes from the 1470s.
• Scholars study incunabula to understand the history of printing and book production.
• The incunabulum of the internet began in the 1960s with early computer networks.
• Many incunabula are housed in special collections at major universities.
• The company was in its incunabulum when it operated from a small garage.
• Collectors prize incunabula for their historical and monetary value.