/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)