#!/bin/bash
## clearline, a line clearing terminal utility, moves cursor upwards
## n lines, overwriting each line, in turn, with blank spaces.
##
## Usage: clearline [n] (Default: n=0)

n=$(($1+1))          ## Add 1 to compensate for newline from command entry.
for ((n; n>0; n-- )) ## For each of 'n' itterations:
do  tput cuu1        ## Move cursor to first column of line above.
    tput el          ## Clear to end of line.
done