Braille a form of written language for the blind, in which characters are represented by patterns of raised dots that are felt with the fingertips, developed by Louis Braille (1809–52), French educationist. Blind from the age of 3, by the age of 15 he had developed his own system of raised-point reading and writing, which was immediately accepted by his fellow students at the Institute des Jeunes Aveugles in Paris, and which was officially adopted two years after his death.

Braille System of reading and writing for the blind. It was invented by Louis Braille (1809–52), who lost his sight at the age of three. Braille was a scholar, and later a teacher, at the National Institute of Blind Youth, Paris. He developed a system of embossed dots to enable blind people to read by touch. This was first published in 1829, and a more complete form appeared in 1837. There are also Braille codes for music and mathematics.

Braille • n. a form of written language for the blind, in which characters are represented by patterns of raised dots that are felt with the fingertips.

braille embossed printing for the blind, named after the inventor, Louis Braille (1809–52).