ceriph
(ˈsɛrɪf)
[Deriv. obscure. A writer in N. & Q. 8 May '69 suggests Du. and Flem. schreef line, stroke (schreve ‘linea; norma, et terminus’ Kilian), which fairly suits sense and form; but historical evidence is wanting, and the quasi-French form of sans-ceriph is not accounted for.]
One of the fine lines of a letter, esp. the fine ‘hair-line’ at the top or bottom of capitals, as of I; hence sans-ceriph a name for the block type that has no hair-lines. See serif.
| 1830 in Figgins Spec. Printing Types, Sans-cerif. 1833 in Blake & Stephenson Printing Types, Nonpareil sans-surryphs. 1841 Savage Dict. Print. 163. 1876 Phonetic Jrnl. 20 Sept. 454/1 The capital C in sans-ceriph type is too much like G. |