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 (n.)
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.
实用例句
1. Buildings old and new are thickly covered with graffiti.
新老建筑上都有密密麻麻的涂鸦。
来自柯林斯例句
2. There's no vandalism, no graffiti, no rubbish left lying about.
没有损害公共财物的行为，也没有涂鸦和随处丢弃的垃圾。
来自柯林斯例句
3. Graffiti is now an art form in Nor-thampton.
涂鸦如今在北安普顿是一种艺术形式。
来自柯林斯例句
4. They all bonded while writing graffiti together.
