Glossary Term Definition
A style of letterform characterized by deliberate archaism and decorative eccentricity.
Definition
In typographic usage, quaint describes letterforms or typographic arrangements that deliberately evoke an archaic or eccentric quality. Quaint types may incorporate unusual ligatures, swash characters, or irregular proportions reminiscent of early printing. The term carries a connotation of deliberate stylistic choice rather than mere age — a typeface is quaint when it self-consciously adopts the mannerisms of an earlier era for decorative effect.
Source
No access — Robert Bringhurst — p. 343:
Deliberately or affectedly old-fashioned.