graffiti

Where does the word "graffiti" come from? It comes from Italian graffiare, passing through Italian before entering English (1800s-1900s).

Graffiti’s story begins in Italian: graffiare meant “to scratch.” Within Italian, it grew into graffiti by 1800s. Applied to inscriptions and drawings scratched onto ancient walls. It reached English by 1800s-1900s as graffiti. First used by archaeologists for the scratched wall inscriptions found at Pompeii. Today, graffiti means writing or drawings made on a wall or other public surface.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · medieval graffiare "to scratch", meaning "to scratch".
2. Stage 2 · Italian · 1800s graffiti "scratched wall drawings", applied to inscriptions and drawings scratched onto ancient walls.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s-1900s graffiti "writing or drawings on public surfaces", first used by archaeologists for the scratched wall inscriptions found at Pompeii.