The story
Calque from Chinese 隸書／隶书 (lìshū). Tradition holds that clerical script developed out of the needs of clerks.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
clerical script
Today it means: An archaic style of Chinese calligraphy, dominant during the Han dynasty. Characters are rather wide (in comparison with modern styles), with long, bold, and deliberate sweeping strokes. Unlike the preceding seal script, it is still easily legible to modern readers, and thus remains in decorative use. Full definition →