tear line

tear line (plural tear lines)

1. In a classified intelligence report, the point at which the confidential version of a report ends (often marked by a series of dashes), and a sanitized version suitable for sharing with the public begins.
   • 1994, Joint Security Commission, Redefining Security: A Report to the Secretary of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence. Unclassified., page 14:

     Where source-revealing information must necessarily be included, the Commission strongly recommends the use of a tear line. Those who need to know how the information was derived will have access to the information above the tear line, marked SECRET COMPARTMENTED ACCESS. Those who need to act on the information, but do not need to know the source of the information, will receive the generally protected information below the tear line, marked SECRET.

2. A perforated or printed dotted line along which paper may be torn or cut.

tear line (plural tear lines)

1. (anatomy) The meniscus of lacrimal fluid between the eyeball and eyelid.