graffitiyoudaoicibaDictYouDict[graffiti 词源字典]
graffiti: [19] Although it denotes ‘writing’, graffiti has no etymological connection with Greek gráphein, source of English graphic. It comes from the plural of Italian graffito, a diminutive form of the noun graffio ‘scratching’. This was derived from the verb graffiare ‘scratch’, itself originally formed from graffio ‘hook’.
[graffiti etymology, graffiti origin, 英语词源]
graffiti (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
1851, "ancient wall inscriptions found in the ruins of Pompeii," from Italian graffiti, plural of graffito "a scribbling," a diminutive formation from graffio "a scratch or scribble," from graffiare "to scribble," ultimately from Greek graphein "to scratch, draw, write" (see -graphy). They are found in many ancient places, but the habit was especially popular among the Romans. Sense extended 1877 to recently made crude drawings and scribbling in public places.