quire

This term is primarily an archaic or specialized unit of measurement used in the paper and printing industries. While it was once a standard commercial term, it is now rarely encountered outside of traditional bookbinding, calligraphy, or historical contexts. It serves as a fractional unit of a ream, which typically consists of twenty quires.

Because it refers to a specific, measured quantity, it functions as a collective noun. In modern usage, it is almost exclusively used when referring to high-end stationery or handmade papers where traditional counting methods are still preserved.