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Past tense of the word "xerox", which is commonly used as a synonym for "photocopy" (both as a noun and a verb) i.e. to make a copy with a Xerox photocopy machine. Xerox was founded in 1906 as the Haloid Company, changed their name in 1958 to Xerox and came to prominence in 1959 with the introduction of the first plain paper photocopier using the process of xerography developed by Chester Carlson. The novelty and popularity of the Xerox photocopiers made them a household name in the USA for decades after. While the "xerox" word is commonly used as a synonym for "photocopy", the company Xerox is concerned about the ongoing use of it, because it put the brand name in danger of being declared a generic word by the courts.
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