jeff
v.v. to cut the edges of a book or stack of paper so they are straight and even. You do this during the final steps of making a book.
v. to trim the edges of a book or stack of paper to ensure uniformity and smoothness. Transitive; primarily used in the context of bookbinding and commercial printing.
The machine will jeff the edges of the new books.
After the pages were sewn together, the binder had to jeff the edges to create a professional finish.
In traditional bookbinding, the artisan would carefully jeff the text block to ensure that no uneven pages remained before applying the gold leaf to the edges.
From Jeffrey, a variant of Geoffrey, from Middle English Geffrey, from an Old French aristocratic name, Geoffroi [dʒɔfreʲ] (> West Middle French Geoffrey, East Middle French Geoffroy), itself from Proto-French forms (latinized in -us) Jotfredus, Jozsfredus, Josfredus (10th century) and Jof[f]redus, Jofridus, Jaufredus, Geffredus (11th century), and ultimately of Proto-Germanic origin. The second element is friþuz (“peace, sanctuary”). The first element may be gautaz (“a Geat, a Goth”) [making the Proto-Germanic term Gautafriþu], as opposed to gōdaz (“good”) or *gudą (“god”) in Godfrey; this would also make it related to Jocelyn. The name was introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century.
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, typically a book or paper stack.