serif

UK: /ˈsɛrɪf/ US: /ˈsɛrɪf/ ,(ser′if )

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ser•if /ˈsɛrɪf/   n. [countable]

1. Printing a smaller line used to finish off a main stroke of a letter, such as at the top and bottom of
   E.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ser•if  (ser′if ), n. [Print.]

1. 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, esp. Brit. ceriph. 

• Dutch schreef line (in writing), akin to schrijven to write
• perh. 1835–45

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

serif, (rarely)seriph / ˈsɛrɪf/ noun

1. a small line at the extremities of a main stroke in a type character

Etymology: 19th Century: perhaps from Dutch schreef dash, probably of Germanic origin, compare Old High German screvōn to engrave