inkhorn

A small container made of horn or a similar material, formerly used to hold ink for writing.

Affectedly or ostentatiously learned; pedantic: inkhorn words.

adjective

Characterized by a narrow concern for book learning and formal rules, without knowledge or experience of practical matters: academic, bookish, donnish, formalistic, literary, pedantic, pedantical, scholastic. See attitude/good attitude/bad attitude/neutral attitude, flexible/rigid, teach/learn.