Etymology

pilcrow

P3I1L1C3R1O1W4

Today it means: A symbol designating the beginning of a new paragraph. Full definition →

Middle English pylcrafte ← Late Latin paragraphus ← Ancient Greek παράγραφος
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The story

  1. Ancient Greek · derived fromπαράγραφος
  2. Late Latin · derived fromparagraphus
  3. Middle English · inherited frompylcrafte
  4. English todaypilcrow

Probably an alteration of Middle English pylcrafte, modification of Late Latin paragraphus, itself from the Ancient Greek παράγραφος (parágraphos).

Words from the same roots

Ancient Greekπαράγραφος all →

paragraphparagraphosparaph

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.