Tukikirjasin

Tukikirjasin is a Finnish term that literally combines tuki (support) and kirjasin (binder or binding device). The word appears chiefly in technical or historical contexts and may have several related meanings depending on domain. In everyday Finnish, the more common terms for a device that binds sheets together are nidontakone or nidonta, which translate to stapler or binding machine.

In some bookbinding or archival contexts, tukikirjasin is used to refer to a component or technique that provides structural support to the spine of a bound document, such as reinforcing strips, endpapers, or other forms of internal support that help prevent loosening of pages.

In practical use, tukikirjasin may denote either a small tool used to add a binding element or a broader binding method rather than a particular machine. The term is not widely standardized and may appear in older texts, technical manuals, or regional language. For librarians, printers, and conservators, understanding the distinction between generic support bindings and mechanical bindings is important when interpreting the term.

See also: nidontakone, nidonta, bookbinding, spine reinforcement, binding.