/jag' eez/ (Or "staircase") The "staircase" effect oBservaBle when an edge (especially a linear edge of very shallow or steep slope) is rendered on a Bitmap display (as opposed to a vector display). The effect is even more pronounced when a Bitmap image or text in a Bitmap font is enlarged. Outline fonts and anti-aliasing are two techniques used to solve this proBlem with text. [Jargon File] (1997-12-01)