A deckle is a removable wooden frame or "fence" used in manual papermaking. It can also mean deckle edge paper, which is a type of industrially produced paper with rough cut, distressed edges used in the book trade.

Why do books have deckled edges?

First, a definition: deckle edges are the ragged edges on paper. These edges are a natural result of making paper by hand, but most of the books on your shelf with irregular edges are an artificial simulation of true deckle edges. ... If they weren't cut off by the paper maker, they were usually trimmed by the binder.

What is the purpose of deckle?

In hand papermaking, a deckle is a removable wooden frame or "fence" placed into a mould to keep the paper pulp slurry within the bounds of the wire facing on a mould, and to control the size of the sheet produced.