deckle edge

American  

noun

1. the irregular, untrimmed edge of handmade paper, often used for ornamental effect in fine books and stationery, now often produced artificially on machine-made paper.

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deckle edge British  

noun

1. the rough edge of handmade paper, caused by pulp seeping between the mould and the deckle: often left as ornamentation in fine books and writing papers

2. a trimmed edge imitating this

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Other Word Forms

• deckle-edged adjective

Etymology

Origin of deckle edge

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

To help you see these changes through the lens of Slate’s coverage, we did make you an anthology, although it doesn’t have a gilt cover or a deckle edge.

From Slate • Sep. 11, 2016

The smell of an old leather binding; the crisp deckle edge of a new hardback; the way a dog-eared paperback feels in your hand.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2016

And she'd have stationery made—blue with a deckle edge, her name and fancy address in swirling type across the top: Grace Windsor Wexler, Sunset Towers on the Lake Shore.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin

It was a simple black journal with leather front and back covers, and pages with a deckle edge.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

Two volumes, small 12mo in size, printed on the highest grade deckle edge paper and bound in light green cloth with ivory and gold decorations.

From The Wide, Wide World by Warner, Susan