scribble

Where does the word "scribble" come from? It comes from Latin scribere, passing through Medieval Latin before entering English (1400s).

Scribble’s story begins in Latin: scribere meant “to write.” The root of 'script', 'scribe' and 'describe'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as scribillare. It may instead be a native English formation from Middle English 'scriben', to write, plus the diminutive '-el'. It reached English by 1400s as scribble. Settled as the English word for writing quickly and carelessly. Today, scribble means to write or draw carelessly or hastily.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient scribere "to write", the root of 'script', 'scribe' and 'describe'.
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval scribillare "to write carelessly", it may instead be a native English formation from Middle English 'scriben', to write, plus the diminutive '-el'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s scribble "to write quickly and carelessly", settled as the English word for writing quickly and carelessly.