serif

Meanings

Noun

• A short line added to the end of a stroke in traditional typefaces, such as Times New Roman.

Adjective

• Of a typeface, provided with serifs.

Origin

• From earlier ceriph, ceref, of obscure derivation. There are two (not directly interrelated) candidates for a possible Dutch origin: 1.) the noun schreef (“stroke”, now also “serif” as a semantic loan), related with schrapen; and 2.) the verb schrafferen, from Italian sgraffiare. For the latter, compare German Schraffe ("serif"), although this again may be a semantic loan based on the English word rather than original to it.