The introduction of the word brochure in the 19th century was probably due to misconception of the French uses. In French brochure is used where the French pamphlet (chiefly applied to scurrilous or libelous or violently controversial pamphlets) is inap

The introduction of the word brochure in the 19th century was probably due to misconception of the French uses. In French brochure is used where the French pamphlet (chiefly applied to scurrilous or libelous or violently controversial pamphlets) is inappropriate. The sense 'a few leaves of printed matter stitched together' has always belonged in English to pamphlet, though it has by the side of this general sense the special one (different from the French) 'pamphlet bearing on some question of current interest (especially in politics or theology)'.