ser·if

[ser-if]
noun Printing.
a smaller line used to finish off a main stroke of a letter, as at the top and bottom of M. See diag. under type.
Also, especially British, ceriph.


Origin:
1835–45; perhaps < Dutch schreef line (in writing), akin to schrijven to write

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
serif or (rarely) seriph (ˈsɛrɪf) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
printing a small line at the extremities of a main stroke in a type character
 
[C19: perhaps from Dutch schreef dash, probably of Germanic origin, compare Old High German screvōn to engrave]
 
seriph or (rarely) seriph
 
n
 
[C19: perhaps from Dutch schreef dash, probably of Germanic origin, compare Old High German screvōn to engrave]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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00:10
Serif is always a great word to know.
So is gobo. Does it mean:
a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

serif
1841, see sans-serif.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
In its earliest form, the nameplate was in tall, serif type.
Serif type is not recommended because fluctuation in registration will adversely affect the fine strokes and serifs.
The serif font is easier to read, and the way that the articles can be chosen is simple and intuitive.
It's well-known that using serif fonts for body text increases readability and reading speed.
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