kerf
A shallow cut, approximately 1/32 inch deep, made
between 1/4 and 1/2 inch from the head and tail on
the backs of the gathered sections of a text
block. The loops of the kettle stitches fit into
the kerfs and consequently do not show as lumps
under the leather of a TIGHT BACK binding.
The term is also applied, although somewhat
inaccurately, to the saw cuts made for the cords
used inRECESSED-CORD
SEWING . (335 )
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