scribble etymology

Etymology

The word "scribble" comes from the Middle English word "scribblen," which is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "skrifa," meaning "to write" or "to draw." It is closely related to the German word "schreiben," which also means "to write."

Meaning

The word "scribble" has several related meanings:

  • To write or draw hastily or carelessly
  • To mark or cover with writing or drawings
  • To write or draw something of little value or importance

Origin

The use of the word "scribble" to mean "to write or draw hastily or carelessly" can be traced back to the 14th century. It was originally used to describe the writing of unskilled or uneducated people. Over time, the word has taken on a more general sense, and it is now often used to refer to any writing or drawing that is done quickly or without much attention to detail.

Examples

  • The students were told to write an essay, but many of them just ended up scribbling down a few sentences.
  • The artist covered the canvas with scribbles, creating a chaotic but visually interesting effect.
  • My handwriting is so bad that it's hard to read what I scribble down.

scribble relate terms

  • scribe

    Etymology The word scribe comes from the Latin word scriba which in turn derives fr

  • describe

    Etymology Meaning The study of the origin and history of words Origin Greek from ety

  • scrabble

    Etymology English Scrabble Origin Late 1930s coined by Alfred Mosher Butts based on

  • scrabble

    Etymology English Scrabble Origin Late 1930s coined by Alfred Mosher Butts based on

  • scramble

    Etymology of Scramble The word scramble has multiple etymological origins Old Fre

  • scribble

    Etymology The word scribble comes from the Middle English word scribblen which is th

  • doodle

    Etymology Doodle derives from the Middle High German word dudeln meaning to sing

  • Scratch

    Etymology The word scratch comes from the Middle English word scratten which in turn

  • scrawl

    Etymology Middle English scrawlen from Middle Dutch scrawelen scrolen from Middle

  • graffiti

    Etymology The word graffiti is derived from the Italian word graffito meaning a scr

  • hand

    Etymology The word hand comes from the Old English word hand which is itself derive

  • handwriting

    Etymology Hand Middle English hand from Old English hand ultimately from Proto Germa

  • drawing

    Etymology Draw derives from the Middle English word drauen itself originating from th

  • script

    Etymology The word script is derived from the Latin word scriptum which means writt

  • write

    Etymology The study of the origin and history of words It examines how words change ove

  • memory

    Etymology Latin Memoria Proto Indo European PIE smr̥ti Root smr̥ meaning to