Unix in a Nutshell, 4th Edition

Name

D

Synopsis

[address1[,address2]]D

Delete the first part (up to embedded newline) of a multiline pattern space created by the N command and resume editing with the first command in the script. If this command empties the pattern space, then a new line of input is read, as if the d command had been executed.

Example

# Strip multiple blank lines, leaving only one:
    /^$/{
    N
    /^\n$/D
    }