Remove * characters from the front of variable docstrings.

23 files changed, 89 insertions, 89 deletions

diff --git a/src/alloc.c b/src/alloc.c
index 4cb0ae04664..16b004fc0e9 100644
--- a/src/alloc.c
+++ b/src/alloc.c
@@ -6413,7 +6413,7 @@ void
 syms_of_alloc (void)
 {
   DEFVAR_INT ("gc-cons-threshold", gc_cons_threshold,
-              doc: /* *Number of bytes of consing between garbage collections.
+              doc: /* Number of bytes of consing between garbage collections.
 Garbage collection can happen automatically once this many bytes have been
 allocated since the last garbage collection.  All data types count.
 
@@ -6424,7 +6424,7 @@ prevent garbage collection during a part of the program.
 See also `gc-cons-percentage'.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("gc-cons-percentage", Vgc_cons_percentage,
-               doc: /* *Portion of the heap used for allocation.
+               doc: /* Portion of the heap used for allocation.
 Garbage collection can happen automatically once this portion of the heap
 has been allocated since the last garbage collection.
 If this portion is smaller than `gc-cons-threshold', this is ignored.  */);
diff --git a/src/buffer.c b/src/buffer.c
index 3f9b2744e96..ca8d1ec5db3 100644
--- a/src/buffer.c
+++ b/src/buffer.c
@@ -5231,7 +5231,7 @@ This is the same as (default-value 'ctl-arrow).  */);
 
   DEFVAR_BUFFER_DEFAULTS ("default-enable-multibyte-characters",
                           enable_multibyte_characters,
-                          doc: /* *Default value of `enable-multibyte-characters' for buffers not overriding it.
+                          doc: /* Default value of `enable-multibyte-characters' for buffers not overriding it.
 This is the same as (default-value 'enable-multibyte-characters).  */);
 
   DEFVAR_BUFFER_DEFAULTS ("default-buffer-file-coding-system",
@@ -5393,7 +5393,7 @@ A string is printed verbatim in the mode line except for %-constructs:
 Decimal digits after the % specify field width to which to pad.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_BUFFER_DEFAULTS ("default-major-mode", major_mode,
-                          doc: /* *Value of `major-mode' for new buffers.  */);
+                          doc: /* Value of `major-mode' for new buffers.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("major-mode", &BVAR (current_buffer, major_mode),
                      make_number (Lisp_Symbol),
@@ -5424,25 +5424,25 @@ Use the command `abbrev-mode' to change this variable.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("case-fold-search", &BVAR (current_buffer, case_fold_search),
                      Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Non-nil if searches and matches should ignore case.  */);
+                     doc: /* Non-nil if searches and matches should ignore case.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("fill-column", &BVAR (current_buffer, fill_column),
                      make_number (LISP_INT_TAG),
-                     doc: /* *Column beyond which automatic line-wrapping should happen.
+                     doc: /* Column beyond which automatic line-wrapping should happen.
 Interactively, you can set the buffer local value using \\[set-fill-column].  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("left-margin", &BVAR (current_buffer, left_margin),
                      make_number (LISP_INT_TAG),
-                     doc: /* *Column for the default `indent-line-function' to indent to.
+                     doc: /* Column for the default `indent-line-function' to indent to.
 Linefeed indents to this column in Fundamental mode.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("tab-width", &BVAR (current_buffer, tab_width),
                      make_number (LISP_INT_TAG),
-                     doc: /* *Distance between tab stops (for display of tab characters), in columns.
+                     doc: /* Distance between tab stops (for display of tab characters), in columns.
 This should be an integer greater than zero.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("ctl-arrow", &BVAR (current_buffer, ctl_arrow), Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Non-nil means display control chars with uparrow.
+                     doc: /* Non-nil means display control chars with uparrow.
 A value of nil means use backslash and octal digits.
 This variable does not apply to characters whose display is specified
 in the current display table (if there is one).  */);
@@ -5483,7 +5483,7 @@ This variable is never applied to a way of decoding a file while reading it.  */
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("bidi-paragraph-direction",
                      &BVAR (current_buffer, bidi_paragraph_direction), Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *If non-nil, forces directionality of text paragraphs in the buffer.
+                     doc: /* If non-nil, forces directionality of text paragraphs in the buffer.
 
 If this is nil (the default), the direction of each paragraph is
 determined by the first strong directional character of its text.
@@ -5494,7 +5494,7 @@ This variable has no effect unless the buffer's value of
 \`bidi-display-reordering' is non-nil.  */);
 
  DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("truncate-lines", &BVAR (current_buffer, truncate_lines), Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Non-nil means do not display continuation lines.
+                     doc: /* Non-nil means do not display continuation lines.
 Instead, give each line of text just one screen line.
 
 Note that this is overridden by the variable
@@ -5504,7 +5504,7 @@ and this buffer is not full-frame width.
 Minibuffers set this variable to nil.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("word-wrap", &BVAR (current_buffer, word_wrap), Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Non-nil means to use word-wrapping for continuation lines.
+                     doc: /* Non-nil means to use word-wrapping for continuation lines.
 When word-wrapping is on, continuation lines are wrapped at the space
 or tab character nearest to the right window edge.
 If nil, continuation lines are wrapped at the right screen edge.
@@ -5625,39 +5625,39 @@ See also the functions `display-table-slot' and `set-display-table-slot'.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("left-margin-width", &BVAR (current_buffer, left_margin_cols),
                      Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Width of left marginal area for display of a buffer.
+                     doc: /* Width of left marginal area for display of a buffer.
 A value of nil means no marginal area.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("right-margin-width", &BVAR (current_buffer, right_margin_cols),
                      Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Width of right marginal area for display of a buffer.
+                     doc: /* Width of right marginal area for display of a buffer.
 A value of nil means no marginal area.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("left-fringe-width", &BVAR (current_buffer, left_fringe_width),
                      Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Width of this buffer's left fringe (in pixels).
+                     doc: /* Width of this buffer's left fringe (in pixels).
 A value of 0 means no left fringe is shown in this buffer's window.
 A value of nil means to use the left fringe width from the window's frame.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("right-fringe-width", &BVAR (current_buffer, right_fringe_width),
                      Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Width of this buffer's right fringe (in pixels).
+                     doc: /* Width of this buffer's right fringe (in pixels).
 A value of 0 means no right fringe is shown in this buffer's window.
 A value of nil means to use the right fringe width from the window's frame.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("fringes-outside-margins", &BVAR (current_buffer, fringes_outside_margins),
                      Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Non-nil means to display fringes outside display margins.
+                     doc: /* Non-nil means to display fringes outside display margins.
 A value of nil means to display fringes between margins and buffer text.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("scroll-bar-width", &BVAR (current_buffer, scroll_bar_width),
                      Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Width of this buffer's scroll bars in pixels.
+                     doc: /* Width of this buffer's scroll bars in pixels.
 A value of nil means to use the scroll bar width from the window's frame.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("vertical-scroll-bar", &BVAR (current_buffer, vertical_scroll_bar_type),
                      Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Position of this buffer's vertical scroll bar.
+                     doc: /* Position of this buffer's vertical scroll bar.
 The value takes effect whenever you tell a window to display this buffer;
 for instance, with `set-window-buffer' or when `display-buffer' displays it.
 
@@ -5667,13 +5667,13 @@ A value of t (the default) means do whatever the window's frame specifies.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("indicate-empty-lines",
                      &BVAR (current_buffer, indicate_empty_lines), Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Visually indicate empty lines after the buffer end.
+                     doc: /* Visually indicate empty lines after the buffer end.
 If non-nil, a bitmap is displayed in the left fringe of a window on
 window-systems.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("indicate-buffer-boundaries",
                      &BVAR (current_buffer, indicate_buffer_boundaries), Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Visually indicate buffer boundaries and scrolling.
+                     doc: /* Visually indicate buffer boundaries and scrolling.
 If non-nil, the first and last line of the buffer are marked in the fringe
 of a window on window-systems with angle bitmaps, or if the window can be
 scrolled, the top and bottom line of the window are marked with up and down
@@ -5698,7 +5698,7 @@ fringe, but no arrow bitmaps, use ((top .  left) (bottom . left)).  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("fringe-indicator-alist",
                      &BVAR (current_buffer, fringe_indicator_alist), Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Mapping from logical to physical fringe indicator bitmaps.
+                     doc: /* Mapping from logical to physical fringe indicator bitmaps.
 The value is an alist where each element (INDICATOR . BITMAPS)
 specifies the fringe bitmaps used to display a specific logical
 fringe indicator.
@@ -5717,7 +5717,7 @@ symbol which is used in both left and right fringes.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("fringe-cursor-alist",
                      &BVAR (current_buffer, fringe_cursor_alist), Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Mapping from logical to physical fringe cursor bitmaps.
+                     doc: /* Mapping from logical to physical fringe cursor bitmaps.
 The value is an alist where each element (CURSOR . BITMAP)
 specifies the fringe bitmaps used to display a specific logical
 cursor type in the fringe.
@@ -5881,7 +5881,7 @@ set when a file is visited.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("buffer-auto-save-file-format",
                      &BVAR (current_buffer, auto_save_file_format), Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Format in which to write auto-save files.
+                     doc: /* Format in which to write auto-save files.
 Should be a list of symbols naming formats that are defined in `format-alist'.
 If it is t, which is the default, auto-save files are written in the
 same format as a regular save would use.  */);
@@ -5931,7 +5931,7 @@ Lisp programs may give this variable certain special values:
   Vtransient_mark_mode = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("inhibit-read-only", Vinhibit_read_only,
-               doc: /* *Non-nil means disregard read-only status of buffers or characters.
+               doc: /* Non-nil means disregard read-only status of buffers or characters.
 If the value is t, disregard `buffer-read-only' and all `read-only'
 text properties.  If the value is a list, disregard `buffer-read-only'
 and disregard a `read-only' text property if the property value
@@ -5966,7 +5966,7 @@ to the default frame line height.  A value of nil means add no extra space.  */)
 
   DEFVAR_PER_BUFFER ("cursor-in-non-selected-windows",
                      &BVAR (current_buffer, cursor_in_non_selected_windows), Qnil,
-                     doc: /* *Non-nil means show a cursor in non-selected windows.
+                     doc: /* Non-nil means show a cursor in non-selected windows.
 If nil, only shows a cursor in the selected window.
 If t, displays a cursor related to the usual cursor type
 \(a solid box becomes hollow, a bar becomes a narrower bar).
diff --git a/src/callint.c b/src/callint.c
index 96e2e10b9d5..c70082e8ae0 100644
--- a/src/callint.c
+++ b/src/callint.c
@@ -945,7 +945,7 @@ may be set by the debugger as a reminder for itself.  */);
   Vcommand_debug_status = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("mark-even-if-inactive", Vmark_even_if_inactive,
-               doc: /* *Non-nil means you can use the mark even when inactive.
+               doc: /* Non-nil means you can use the mark even when inactive.
 This option makes a difference in Transient Mark mode.
 When the option is non-nil, deactivation of the mark
 turns off region highlighting, but commands that use the mark
diff --git a/src/callproc.c b/src/callproc.c
index b5b8cadeb68..9528c9644d8 100644
--- a/src/callproc.c
+++ b/src/callproc.c
@@ -1637,16 +1637,16 @@ syms_of_callproc (void)
   staticpro (&Vtemp_file_name_pattern);
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("shell-file-name", Vshell_file_name,
-               doc: /* *File name to load inferior shells from.
+               doc: /* File name to load inferior shells from.
 Initialized from the SHELL environment variable, or to a system-dependent
 default if SHELL is not set.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("exec-path", Vexec_path,
-               doc: /* *List of directories to search programs to run in subprocesses.
+               doc: /* List of directories to search programs to run in subprocesses.
 Each element is a string (directory name) or nil (try default directory).  */);
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("exec-suffixes", Vexec_suffixes,
-               doc: /* *List of suffixes to try to find executable file names.
+               doc: /* List of suffixes to try to find executable file names.
 Each element is a string.  */);
   Vexec_suffixes = Qnil;
 
diff --git a/src/charset.c b/src/charset.c
index 57e1603fc19..7b963a94800 100644
--- a/src/charset.c
+++ b/src/charset.c
@@ -2403,7 +2403,7 @@ syms_of_charset (void)
   defsubr (&Ssort_charsets);
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("charset-map-path", Vcharset_map_path,
-               doc: /* *List of directories to search for charset map files.  */);
+               doc: /* List of directories to search for charset map files.  */);
   Vcharset_map_path = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("inhibit-load-charset-map", inhibit_load_charset_map,
diff --git a/src/dosfns.c b/src/dosfns.c
index 8ef672fb8bb..d4b96e9df90 100644
--- a/src/dosfns.c
+++ b/src/dosfns.c
@@ -710,7 +710,7 @@ Implicitly modified when the TZ variable is changed.  */);
 #endif
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("dos-display-scancodes", Vdos_display_scancodes,
-               doc: /* *Controls whether DOS raw keyboard events are displayed as you type.
+               doc: /* Whether DOS raw keyboard events are displayed as you type.
 When non-nil, the keyboard scan-codes are displayed at the bottom right
 corner of the display (typically at the end of the mode line).
 The output format is: scan code:char code*modifiers.  */);
@@ -718,17 +718,17 @@ The output format is: scan code:char code*modifiers.  */);
   Vdos_display_scancodes = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_INT ("dos-hyper-key", dos_hyper_key,
-              doc: /* *If set to 1, use right ALT key as hyper key.
+              doc: /* If set to 1, use right ALT key as hyper key.
 If set to 2, use right CTRL key as hyper key.  */);
   dos_hyper_key = 0;
 
   DEFVAR_INT ("dos-super-key", dos_super_key,
-              doc: /* *If set to 1, use right ALT key as super key.
+              doc: /* If set to 1, use right ALT key as super key.
 If set to 2, use right CTRL key as super key.  */);
   dos_super_key = 0;
 
   DEFVAR_INT ("dos-keypad-mode", dos_keypad_mode,
-              doc: /* *Controls what key code is returned by a key in the numeric keypad.
+              doc: /* Controls what key code is returned by a key in the numeric keypad.
 The `numlock ON' action is only taken if no modifier keys are pressed.
 The value is an integer constructed by adding the following bits together:
 
diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index 1a6501a2b68..cb0518f34ec 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -3563,7 +3563,7 @@ void
 syms_of_eval (void)
 {
   DEFVAR_INT ("max-specpdl-size", max_specpdl_size,
-              doc: /* *Limit on number of Lisp variable bindings and `unwind-protect's.
+              doc: /* Limit on number of Lisp variable bindings and `unwind-protect's.
 If Lisp code tries to increase the total number past this amount,
 an error is signaled.
 You can safely use a value considerably larger than the default value,
@@ -3571,7 +3571,7 @@ if that proves inconveniently small.  However, if you increase it too far,
 Emacs could run out of memory trying to make the stack bigger.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_INT ("max-lisp-eval-depth", max_lisp_eval_depth,
-              doc: /* *Limit on depth in `eval', `apply' and `funcall' before error.
+              doc: /* Limit on depth in `eval', `apply' and `funcall' before error.
 
 This limit serves to catch infinite recursions for you before they cause
 actual stack overflow in C, which would be fatal for Emacs.
@@ -3615,7 +3615,7 @@ before making `inhibit-quit' nil.  */);
   DEFSYM (Qdebug, "debug");
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("debug-on-error", Vdebug_on_error,
-               doc: /* *Non-nil means enter debugger if an error is signaled.
+               doc: /* Non-nil means enter debugger if an error is signaled.
 Does not apply to errors handled by `condition-case' or those
 matched by `debug-ignored-errors'.
 If the value is a list, an error only means to enter the debugger
@@ -3627,7 +3627,7 @@ See also the variable `debug-on-quit'.  */);
   Vdebug_on_error = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("debug-ignored-errors", Vdebug_ignored_errors,
-    doc: /* *List of errors for which the debugger should not be called.
+    doc: /* List of errors for which the debugger should not be called.
 Each element may be a condition-name or a regexp that matches error messages.
 If any element applies to a given error, that error skips the debugger
 and just returns to top level.
@@ -3636,7 +3636,7 @@ It does not apply to errors handled by `condition-case'.  */);
   Vdebug_ignored_errors = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("debug-on-quit", debug_on_quit,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means enter debugger if quit is signaled (C-g, for example).
+    doc: /* Non-nil means enter debugger if quit is signaled (C-g, for example).
 Does not apply if quit is handled by a `condition-case'.  */);
   debug_on_quit = 0;
 
@@ -3665,7 +3665,7 @@ The Edebug package uses this to regain control.  */);
   Vsignal_hook_function = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("debug-on-signal", Vdebug_on_signal,
-               doc: /* *Non-nil means call the debugger regardless of condition handlers.
+               doc: /* Non-nil means call the debugger regardless of condition handlers.
 Note that `debug-on-error', `debug-on-quit' and friends
 still determine whether to handle the particular condition.  */);
   Vdebug_on_signal = Qnil;
diff --git a/src/fileio.c b/src/fileio.c
index 7efe919a9f0..3a74672b9a6 100644
--- a/src/fileio.c
+++ b/src/fileio.c
@@ -5611,7 +5611,7 @@ syms_of_fileio (void)
   DEFSYM (Qexcl, "excl");
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("file-name-coding-system", Vfile_name_coding_system,
-               doc: /* *Coding system for encoding file names.
+               doc: /* Coding system for encoding file names.
 If it is nil, `default-file-name-coding-system' (which see) is used.  */);
   Vfile_name_coding_system = Qnil;
 
@@ -5765,7 +5765,7 @@ file is usually more useful if it contains the deleted text.  */);
 
 #ifdef HAVE_FSYNC
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("write-region-inhibit-fsync", write_region_inhibit_fsync,
-               doc: /* *Non-nil means don't call fsync in `write-region'.
+               doc: /* Non-nil means don't call fsync in `write-region'.
 This variable affects calls to `write-region' as well as save commands.
 A non-nil value may result in data loss!  */);
   write_region_inhibit_fsync = 0;
diff --git a/src/fns.c b/src/fns.c
index 1edfe966098..a92a1c882fd 100644
--- a/src/fns.c
+++ b/src/fns.c
@@ -4933,7 +4933,7 @@ Used by `featurep' and `require', and altered by `provide'.  */);
 #endif  /* HAVE_LANGINFO_CODESET */
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("use-dialog-box", use_dialog_box,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means mouse commands use dialog boxes to ask questions.
+    doc: /* Non-nil means mouse commands use dialog boxes to ask questions.
 This applies to `y-or-n-p' and `yes-or-no-p' questions asked by commands
 invoked by mouse clicks and mouse menu items.
 
@@ -4942,7 +4942,7 @@ non-nil.  */);
   use_dialog_box = 1;
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("use-file-dialog", use_file_dialog,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means mouse commands use a file dialog to ask for files.
+    doc: /* Non-nil means mouse commands use a file dialog to ask for files.
 This applies to commands from menus and tool bar buttons even when
 they are initiated from the keyboard.  If `use-dialog-box' is nil,
 that disables the use of a file dialog, regardless of the value of
diff --git a/src/fontset.c b/src/fontset.c
index d06491ddf25..8a61f09f590 100644
--- a/src/fontset.c
+++ b/src/fontset.c
@@ -2227,7 +2227,7 @@ alternate fontnames (if any) are tried instead.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("vertical-centering-font-regexp",
                Vvertical_centering_font_regexp,
-               doc: /* *Regexp matching font names that require vertical centering on display.
+               doc: /* Regexp matching font names that require vertical centering on display.
 When a character is displayed with such fonts, the character is displayed
 at the vertical center of lines.  */);
   Vvertical_centering_font_regexp = Qnil;
diff --git a/src/fringe.c b/src/fringe.c
index 5285d09dfb0..62c50e0d420 100644
--- a/src/fringe.c
+++ b/src/fringe.c
@@ -1754,7 +1754,7 @@ syms_of_fringe (void)
   defsubr (&Sset_fringe_bitmap_face);
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("overflow-newline-into-fringe", Voverflow_newline_into_fringe,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means that newline may flow into the right fringe.
+    doc: /* Non-nil means that newline may flow into the right fringe.
 This means that display lines which are exactly as wide as the window
 (not counting the final newline) will only occupy one screen line, by
 showing (or hiding) the final newline in the right fringe; when point
diff --git a/src/indent.c b/src/indent.c
index 9b4279f0c4e..1531d2ffde8 100644
--- a/src/indent.c
+++ b/src/indent.c
@@ -2163,7 +2163,7 @@ void
 syms_of_indent (void)
 {
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("indent-tabs-mode", indent_tabs_mode,
-               doc: /* *Indentation can insert tabs if this is non-nil.  */);
+               doc: /* Indentation can insert tabs if this is non-nil.  */);
   indent_tabs_mode = 1;
 
   defsubr (&Scurrent_indentation);
diff --git a/src/lread.c b/src/lread.c
index 353f4a3064d..bfb37b4fc89 100644
--- a/src/lread.c
+++ b/src/lread.c
@@ -4442,7 +4442,7 @@ were read in. */);
   Vread_circle = Qt;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("load-path", Vload_path,
-               doc: /* *List of directories to search for files to load.
+               doc: /* List of directories to search for files to load.
 Each element is a string (directory name) or nil (try default directory).
 Initialized based on EMACSLOADPATH environment variable, if any,
 otherwise to default specified by file `epaths.h' when Emacs was built.  */);
diff --git a/src/msdos.c b/src/msdos.c
index 885cedd3df0..5f46829aefd 100644
--- a/src/msdos.c
+++ b/src/msdos.c
@@ -4270,7 +4270,7 @@ syms_of_msdos (void)
   DEFSYM (Qreverse, "reverse");
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("dos-unsupported-char-glyph", Vdos_unsupported_char_glyph,
-               doc: /* *Glyph to display instead of chars not supported by current codepage.
+               doc: /* Glyph to display instead of chars not supported by current codepage.
 This variable is used only by MS-DOS terminals.  */);
   Vdos_unsupported_char_glyph = make_number ('\177');
 
diff --git a/src/print.c b/src/print.c
index 40e0fb6b855..dac7a79d599 100644
--- a/src/print.c
+++ b/src/print.c
@@ -2149,7 +2149,7 @@ shared once again when the text is read back.  */);
   Vprint_gensym = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("print-circle", Vprint_circle,
-               doc: /* *Non-nil means print recursive structures using #N= and #N# syntax.
+               doc: /* Non-nil means print recursive structures using #N= and #N# syntax.
 If nil, printing proceeds recursively and may lead to
 `max-lisp-eval-depth' being exceeded or an error may occur:
 \"Apparently circular structure being printed.\"  Also see
@@ -2161,7 +2161,7 @@ where N is a positive decimal integer.  */);
   Vprint_circle = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("print-continuous-numbering", Vprint_continuous_numbering,
-               doc: /* *Non-nil means number continuously across print calls.
+               doc: /* Non-nil means number continuously across print calls.
 This affects the numbers printed for #N= labels and #M# references.
 See also `print-circle', `print-gensym', and `print-number-table'.
 This variable should not be set with `setq'; bind it with a `let' instead.  */);
diff --git a/src/process.c b/src/process.c
index dc43191ebef..65020299e75 100644
--- a/src/process.c
+++ b/src/process.c
@@ -7456,7 +7456,7 @@ syms_of_process (void)
   DEFSYM (Qargs, "args");
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("delete-exited-processes", delete_exited_processes,
-               doc: /* *Non-nil means delete processes immediately when they exit.
+               doc: /* Non-nil means delete processes immediately when they exit.
 A value of nil means don't delete them until `list-processes' is run.  */);
 
   delete_exited_processes = 1;
diff --git a/src/syntax.c b/src/syntax.c
index 16012d9f88e..7a0e0fd7c52 100644
--- a/src/syntax.c
+++ b/src/syntax.c
@@ -3494,7 +3494,7 @@ See the info node `(elisp)Syntax Properties' for a description of the
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("open-paren-in-column-0-is-defun-start",
                open_paren_in_column_0_is_defun_start,
-               doc: /* *Non-nil means an open paren in column 0 denotes the start of a defun.  */);
+               doc: /* Non-nil means an open paren in column 0 denotes the start of a defun.  */);
   open_paren_in_column_0_is_defun_start = 1;
 
 
diff --git a/src/w32term.c b/src/w32term.c
index 8a0e9efc943..18a3753f9e9 100644
--- a/src/w32term.c
+++ b/src/w32term.c
@@ -6411,7 +6411,7 @@ the cursor have no effect.  */);
      from cus-start.el and other places, like "M-x set-variable".  */
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("x-use-underline-position-properties",
                x_use_underline_position_properties,
-     doc: /* *Non-nil means make use of UNDERLINE_POSITION font properties.
+     doc: /* Non-nil means make use of UNDERLINE_POSITION font properties.
 A value of nil means ignore them.  If you encounter fonts with bogus
 UNDERLINE_POSITION font properties, for example 7x13 on XFree prior
 to 4.1, set this to nil.  You can also use `underline-minimum-offset'
@@ -6421,7 +6421,7 @@ sizes.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("x-underline-at-descent-line",
                x_underline_at_descent_line,
-     doc: /* *Non-nil means to draw the underline at the same place as the descent line.
+     doc: /* Non-nil means to draw the underline at the same place as the descent line.
 A value of nil means to draw the underline according to the value of the
 variable `x-use-underline-position-properties', which is usually at the
 baseline level.  The default value is nil.  */);
diff --git a/src/xdisp.c b/src/xdisp.c
index 7fb3f8035df..c6939a5dcf9 100644
--- a/src/xdisp.c
+++ b/src/xdisp.c
@@ -28284,14 +28284,14 @@ syms_of_xdisp (void)
 
 #ifdef HAVE_WINDOW_SYSTEM
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("x-stretch-cursor", x_stretch_cursor_p,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means draw block cursor as wide as the glyph under it.
+    doc: /* Non-nil means draw block cursor as wide as the glyph under it.
 For example, if a block cursor is over a tab, it will be drawn as
 wide as that tab on the display.  */);
   x_stretch_cursor_p = 0;
 #endif
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("show-trailing-whitespace", Vshow_trailing_whitespace,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means highlight trailing whitespace.
+    doc: /* Non-nil means highlight trailing whitespace.
 The face used for trailing whitespace is `trailing-whitespace'.  */);
   Vshow_trailing_whitespace = Qnil;
 
@@ -28311,7 +28311,7 @@ A value of nil means no special handling of these characters.  */);
   Vnobreak_char_display = Qt;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("void-text-area-pointer", Vvoid_text_area_pointer,
-    doc: /* *The pointer shape to show in void text areas.
+    doc: /* The pointer shape to show in void text areas.
 A value of nil means to show the text pointer.  Other options are `arrow',
 `text', `hand', `vdrag', `hdrag', `modeline', and `hourglass'.  */);
   Vvoid_text_area_pointer = Qarrow;
@@ -28344,14 +28344,14 @@ where to display overlay arrows.  */);
     = Fcons (intern_c_string ("overlay-arrow-position"), Qnil);
 
   DEFVAR_INT ("scroll-step", emacs_scroll_step,
-    doc: /* *The number of lines to try scrolling a window by when point moves out.
+    doc: /* The number of lines to try scrolling a window by when point moves out.
 If that fails to bring point back on frame, point is centered instead.
 If this is zero, point is always centered after it moves off frame.
 If you want scrolling to always be a line at a time, you should set
 `scroll-conservatively' to a large value rather than set this to 1.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_INT ("scroll-conservatively", scroll_conservatively,
-    doc: /* *Scroll up to this many lines, to bring point back on screen.
+    doc: /* Scroll up to this many lines, to bring point back on screen.
 If point moves off-screen, redisplay will scroll by up to
 `scroll-conservatively' lines in order to bring point just barely
 onto the screen again.  If that cannot be done, then redisplay
@@ -28365,7 +28365,7 @@ A value of zero means always recenter point if it moves off screen.  */);
   scroll_conservatively = 0;
 
   DEFVAR_INT ("scroll-margin", scroll_margin,
-    doc: /* *Number of lines of margin at the top and bottom of a window.
+    doc: /* Number of lines of margin at the top and bottom of a window.
 Recenter the window whenever point gets within this many lines
 of the top or bottom of the window.  */);
   scroll_margin = 0;
@@ -28401,20 +28401,20 @@ Any other value means to use the appropriate face, `mode-line',
   mode_line_inverse_video = 1;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("line-number-display-limit", Vline_number_display_limit,
-    doc: /* *Maximum buffer size for which line number should be displayed.
+    doc: /* Maximum buffer size for which line number should be displayed.
 If the buffer is bigger than this, the line number does not appear
 in the mode line.  A value of nil means no limit.  */);
   Vline_number_display_limit = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_INT ("line-number-display-limit-width",
               line_number_display_limit_width,
-    doc: /* *Maximum line width (in characters) for line number display.
+    doc: /* Maximum line width (in characters) for line number display.
 If the average length of the lines near point is bigger than this, then the
 line number may be omitted from the mode line.  */);
   line_number_display_limit_width = 200;
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("highlight-nonselected-windows", highlight_nonselected_windows,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means highlight region even in nonselected windows.  */);
+    doc: /* Non-nil means highlight region even in nonselected windows.  */);
   highlight_nonselected_windows = 0;
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("multiple-frames", multiple_frames,
@@ -28486,7 +28486,7 @@ See `set-window-redisplay-end-trigger'.  */);
   Vredisplay_end_trigger_functions = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("mouse-autoselect-window", Vmouse_autoselect_window,
-     doc: /* *Non-nil means autoselect window with mouse pointer.
+     doc: /* Non-nil means autoselect window with mouse pointer.
 If nil, do not autoselect windows.
 A positive number means delay autoselection by that many seconds: a
 window is autoselected only after the mouse has remained in that
@@ -28506,7 +28506,7 @@ When customizing this variable make sure that the actual value of
   Vmouse_autoselect_window = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("auto-resize-tool-bars", Vauto_resize_tool_bars,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means automatically resize tool-bars.
+    doc: /* Non-nil means automatically resize tool-bars.
 This dynamically changes the tool-bar's height to the minimum height
 that is needed to make all tool-bar items visible.
 If value is `grow-only', the tool-bar's height is only increased
@@ -28514,15 +28514,15 @@ automatically; to decrease the tool-bar height, use \\[recenter].  */);
   Vauto_resize_tool_bars = Qt;
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("auto-raise-tool-bar-buttons", auto_raise_tool_bar_buttons_p,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means raise tool-bar buttons when the mouse moves over them.  */);
+    doc: /* Non-nil means raise tool-bar buttons when the mouse moves over them.  */);
   auto_raise_tool_bar_buttons_p = 1;
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("make-cursor-line-fully-visible", make_cursor_line_fully_visible_p,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means to scroll (recenter) cursor line if it is not fully visible.  */);
+    doc: /* Non-nil means to scroll (recenter) cursor line if it is not fully visible.  */);
   make_cursor_line_fully_visible_p = 1;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("tool-bar-border", Vtool_bar_border,
-    doc: /* *Border below tool-bar in pixels.
+    doc: /* Border below tool-bar in pixels.
 If an integer, use it as the height of the border.
 If it is one of `internal-border-width' or `border-width', use the
 value of the corresponding frame parameter.
@@ -28530,7 +28530,7 @@ Otherwise, no border is added below the tool-bar.  */);
   Vtool_bar_border = Qinternal_border_width;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("tool-bar-button-margin", Vtool_bar_button_margin,
-    doc: /* *Margin around tool-bar buttons in pixels.
+    doc: /* Margin around tool-bar buttons in pixels.
 If an integer, use that for both horizontal and vertical margins.
 Otherwise, value should be a pair of integers `(HORZ . VERT)' with
 HORZ specifying the horizontal margin, and VERT specifying the
@@ -28538,7 +28538,7 @@ vertical margin.  */);
   Vtool_bar_button_margin = make_number (DEFAULT_TOOL_BAR_BUTTON_MARGIN);
 
   DEFVAR_INT ("tool-bar-button-relief", tool_bar_button_relief,
-    doc: /* *Relief thickness of tool-bar buttons.  */);
+    doc: /* Relief thickness of tool-bar buttons.  */);
   tool_bar_button_relief = DEFAULT_TOOL_BAR_BUTTON_RELIEF;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("tool-bar-style", Vtool_bar_style,
@@ -28553,7 +28553,7 @@ It can be one of
   Vtool_bar_style = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_INT ("tool-bar-max-label-size", tool_bar_max_label_size,
-    doc: /* *Maximum number of characters a label can have to be shown.
+    doc: /* Maximum number of characters a label can have to be shown.
 The tool bar style must also show labels for this to have any effect, see
 `tool-bar-style'.  */);
   tool_bar_max_label_size = DEFAULT_TOOL_BAR_LABEL_SIZE;
@@ -28568,7 +28568,7 @@ fontified regions the property `fontified'.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("unibyte-display-via-language-environment",
                unibyte_display_via_language_environment,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means display unibyte text according to language environment.
+    doc: /* Non-nil means display unibyte text according to language environment.
 Specifically, this means that raw bytes in the range 160-255 decimal
 are displayed by converting them to the equivalent multibyte characters
 according to the current language environment.  As a result, they are
@@ -28579,7 +28579,7 @@ but does not change the fact they are interpreted as raw bytes.  */);
   unibyte_display_via_language_environment = 0;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("max-mini-window-height", Vmax_mini_window_height,
-    doc: /* *Maximum height for resizing mini-windows (the minibuffer and the echo area).
+    doc: /* Maximum height for resizing mini-windows (the minibuffer and the echo area).
 If a float, it specifies a fraction of the mini-window frame's height.
 If an integer, it specifies a number of lines.  */);
   Vmax_mini_window_height = make_float (0.25);
@@ -28613,12 +28613,12 @@ point visible.  */);
   DEFSYM (Qauto_hscroll_mode, "auto-hscroll-mode");
 
   DEFVAR_INT ("hscroll-margin", hscroll_margin,
-    doc: /* *How many columns away from the window edge point is allowed to get
+    doc: /* How many columns away from the window edge point is allowed to get
 before automatic hscrolling will horizontally scroll the window.  */);
   hscroll_margin = 5;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("hscroll-step", Vhscroll_step,
-    doc: /* *How many columns to scroll the window when point gets too close to the edge.
+    doc: /* How many columns to scroll the window when point gets too close to the edge.
 When point is less than `hscroll-margin' columns from the window
 edge, automatic hscrolling will scroll the window by the amount of columns
 determined by this variable.  If its value is a positive integer, scroll that
@@ -28705,7 +28705,7 @@ To add a prefix to continuation lines, use `wrap-prefix'.  */);
 #endif /* GLYPH_DEBUG */
 
   DEFVAR_INT ("overline-margin", overline_margin,
-               doc: /* *Space between overline and text, in pixels.
+               doc: /* Space between overline and text, in pixels.
 The default value is 2: the height of the overline (1 pixel) plus 1 pixel
 margin to the character height.  */);
   overline_margin = 2;
@@ -28726,7 +28726,7 @@ cursor shapes.  */);
   display_hourglass_p = 1;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("hourglass-delay", Vhourglass_delay,
-               doc: /* *Seconds to wait before displaying an hourglass pointer when Emacs is busy.  */);
+               doc: /* Seconds to wait before displaying an hourglass pointer when Emacs is busy.  */);
   Vhourglass_delay = make_number (DEFAULT_HOURGLASS_DELAY);
 
   hourglass_atimer = NULL;
diff --git a/src/xfaces.c b/src/xfaces.c
index 476fb1e0366..972de234510 100644
--- a/src/xfaces.c
+++ b/src/xfaces.c
@@ -6558,7 +6558,7 @@ syms_of_xfaces (void)
 #endif
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("font-list-limit", Vfont_list_limit,
-               doc: /* *Limit for font matching.
+               doc: /* Limit for font matching.
 If an integer > 0, font matching functions won't load more than
 that number of fonts when searching for a matching font.  */);
   Vfont_list_limit = make_number (DEFAULT_FONT_LIST_LIMIT);
@@ -6568,7 +6568,7 @@ that number of fonts when searching for a matching font.  */);
   Vface_new_frame_defaults = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_LISP ("face-default-stipple", Vface_default_stipple,
-    doc: /* *Default stipple pattern used on monochrome displays.
+    doc: /* Default stipple pattern used on monochrome displays.
 This stipple pattern is used on monochrome displays
 instead of shades of gray for a face background color.
 See `set-face-stipple' for possible values for this variable.  */);
diff --git a/src/xfns.c b/src/xfns.c
index 6f08ada1bb9..df1b39b018f 100644
--- a/src/xfns.c
+++ b/src/xfns.c
@@ -5920,32 +5920,32 @@ Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.  */);
 
 /* This is not ifdef:ed, so other builds than GTK can customize it.  */
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("x-gtk-use-old-file-dialog", x_gtk_use_old_file_dialog,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means prompt with the old GTK file selection dialog.
+    doc: /* Non-nil means prompt with the old GTK file selection dialog.
 If nil or if the file selection dialog is not available, the new GTK file
 chooser is used instead.  To turn off all file dialogs set the
 variable `use-file-dialog'.  */);
   x_gtk_use_old_file_dialog = 0;
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("x-gtk-show-hidden-files", x_gtk_show_hidden_files,
-    doc: /* *If non-nil, the GTK file chooser will by default show hidden files.
+    doc: /* If non-nil, the GTK file chooser will by default show hidden files.
 Note that this is just the default, there is a toggle button on the file
 chooser to show or not show hidden files on a case by case basis.  */);
   x_gtk_show_hidden_files = 0;
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("x-gtk-file-dialog-help-text", x_gtk_file_dialog_help_text,
-    doc: /* *If non-nil, the GTK file chooser will show additional help text.
+    doc: /* If non-nil, the GTK file chooser will show additional help text.
 If more space for files in the file chooser dialog is wanted, set this to nil
 to turn the additional text off.  */);
   x_gtk_file_dialog_help_text = 1;
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("x-gtk-whole-detached-tool-bar", x_gtk_whole_detached_tool_bar,
-    doc: /* *If non-nil, a detached tool bar is shown in full.
+    doc: /* If non-nil, a detached tool bar is shown in full.
 The default is to just show an arrow and pressing on that arrow shows
 the tool bar buttons.  */);
   x_gtk_whole_detached_tool_bar = 0;
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("x-gtk-use-system-tooltips", x_gtk_use_system_tooltips,
-    doc: /* *If non-nil with a Gtk+ built Emacs, the Gtk+ tooltip is used.
+    doc: /* If non-nil with a Gtk+ built Emacs, the Gtk+ tooltip is used.
 Otherwise use Emacs own tooltip implementation.
 When using Gtk+ tooltips, the tooltip face is not used.  */);
   x_gtk_use_system_tooltips = 1;
diff --git a/src/xsettings.c b/src/xsettings.c
index 066c6e795e9..69ef22f55d7 100644
--- a/src/xsettings.c
+++ b/src/xsettings.c
@@ -1024,7 +1024,7 @@ syms_of_xsettings (void)
   defsubr (&Sfont_get_system_normal_font);
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("font-use-system-font", use_system_font,
-    doc: /* *Non-nil means to apply the system defined font dynamically.
+    doc: /* Non-nil means to apply the system defined font dynamically.
 When this is non-nil and the system defined fixed width font changes, we
 update frames dynamically.
 If this variable is nil, Emacs ignores system font changes.  */);
diff --git a/src/xterm.c b/src/xterm.c
index 9ce166883c3..f5272fc7630 100644
--- a/src/xterm.c
+++ b/src/xterm.c
@@ -10830,7 +10830,7 @@ syms_of_xterm (void)
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("x-use-underline-position-properties",
                x_use_underline_position_properties,
-     doc: /* *Non-nil means make use of UNDERLINE_POSITION font properties.
+     doc: /* Non-nil means make use of UNDERLINE_POSITION font properties.
 A value of nil means ignore them.  If you encounter fonts with bogus
 UNDERLINE_POSITION font properties, for example 7x13 on XFree prior
 to 4.1, set this to nil.  You can also use `underline-minimum-offset'
@@ -10840,7 +10840,7 @@ sizes.  */);
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("x-underline-at-descent-line",
                x_underline_at_descent_line,
-     doc: /* *Non-nil means to draw the underline at the same place as the descent line.
+     doc: /* Non-nil means to draw the underline at the same place as the descent line.
 A value of nil means to draw the underline according to the value of the
 variable `x-use-underline-position-properties', which is usually at the
 baseline level.  The default value is nil.  */);