graffiare

Forms

graffiare (first-person singular present gràffio, first-person singular past historic graffiài, past participle graffiàto, auxiliary avére)^[1]

Etymology

In the view of most dictionaries it is inherited from Vulgar Latin *graphiāre (“to incise (the wax of a tablet)”), a verb formed from Latin graphium (“stylus”), perhaps influenced by graffa (“hook”).^{[2][3][4][5][6][1]} Latin graphium, the pointed instrument for writing on wax tablets, is from Ancient Greek γραφεῖον (grapheîon) (Late Greek ⟨gráphion⟩), from γράφω (gráphō, “to write”).^[3][7][1] Nocentini compares Occitan grafi (“stylus”), grafinar (“to scratch”) and French greffier (“clerk”).^[3]

The GDLI, Devoto–Oli and Treccani derive it instead from Lombardic *krapfo (“hook”), the source of graffio “hook”.^[8][9][10] Devoto saw a blend of *graphiāre with the Lombardic word.^[11] Nocentini holds that the likeness between the descendants of graphium and those of *krapfo is pure chance, helped by the closeness in meaning.^[3] Prati thought of an imitative ⟨*graff⟩ for the sound of scratching, which DELI finds less solid,^[2] and Tommaseo also took the word as imitative.^[12]

The TLIO derives the verb from graffio “scratch”,^[13] while DELI and Nocentini take that noun to be formed from the verb.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The first record is in Guittone d'Arezzo's letters, before 1294, for tearing the skin with the nails: l'unghie vostre averìano graffiato mene (your nails would have scratched me).^[2][13][8]

Semantic evolution

In the Inferno Cerberus graffia li spirti, clawing the souls,^[12][14] and Boccaccio extended the verb in 1341–42 to marking the surface of an object.^[2] Old Italian also used it figuratively for wounding the heart and for afflicting or harming badly.^[13] The derivatives came early: sgraffignare, from an older graffignare “to claw, snatch”, in 1316–37, the noun graffio “scratch” in 1320–30, sgraffiare in the mid-14th century and graffiatura at the end of it.^[3]

The slang sense “to steal” is recorded in 1863 by Fanfani, who says the common people use it often.^[2] Today the verb is also used of sharp, biting criticism.^[4][9]

Timeline

• Before 1294 – Guittone d'Arezzo uses graffiare in his letters.^[2][13]
• 1316–1337 – Sgraffignare is recorded.^[3]
• 1320–1330 – The noun graffio “scratch” is recorded.^[3]
• 1341–1342 – Boccaccio uses the verb of scratching an object.^[2]
• Mid-14th century – Sgraffiare is recorded.^[3]
• End of the 14th century – Graffiatura is recorded.^[3]
• 1863 – Fanfani records the sense “to steal”.^[2]

Meanings

Verb

1. To scratch the skin with the nails or something pointed: Il gattino mi ha graffiato il braccio.^[4][9][5]
2. To scratch or score the surface of an object: Hanno graffiato la portiera della macchina.^[4][9][15]
3. (figurative) To sting with sharp, sarcastic criticism; also used without an object: una satira che graffia.^[4][9][5]
4. (colloquial, rare) To steal, pinch.^[4][9][5]
5. (reflexive: graffiarsi) To scratch oneself, or to get scratched; of an object, to get scratches.^[5][9][6]

Word family

• graffiatura
• graffiata
• graffiante
• sgraffiare
• sgraffignare
• graffietto

Related words

• graffiarsi
• graffio
• graffare
• graffa
• Latin graphium

Usage notes

The GDLI records an old, separate graffiare “to sadden”, in Petrarch, derived from gramo.^[8]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cortelazzo, Manlio; Zolli, Paolo (1999), Dizionario etimologico della lingua italiana, 2nd ed. by Manlio Cortelazzo and Michele A. Cortelazzo, Bologna: Zanichelli
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Nocentini, Alberto; Parenti, Alessandro (2010), l'Etimologico: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Firenze: Le Monnier
4. ^ a b c d e f De Mauro, Tullio (ed.) (2003), Grande dizionario italiano dell'uso, CD-ROM version 2.0, Torino: UTET
5. ^ a b c d e Zingarelli, Nicola (2009), Lo Zingarelli 2010: vocabolario della lingua italiana, Bologna: Zanichelli
6. ^ a b Gabrielli, Aldo (2020), Grande dizionario italiano, digital ed., Milano: Hoepli
7. ^ Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
8. ^ a b c Battaglia, Salvatore; Bàrberi Squarotti, Giorgio (1961–2002), Grande dizionario della lingua italiana, 21 vols., Torino: UTET; digital ed. Accademia della Crusca
9. ^ a b c d e f g Devoto, Giacomo; Oli, Gian Carlo; Serianni, Luca; Trifone, Maurizio (2026), Nuovo Devoto–Oli: il vocabolario dell'italiano contemporaneo, digital ed., Milano: Le Monnier
10. ^ Vocabolario della lingua italiana Treccani (2011), Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana
11. ^ Devoto, Giacomo (1968), Avviamento alla etimologia italiana: dizionario etimologico, 2nd ed., Firenze: Le Monnier
12. ^ a b Tommaseo, Niccolò; Bellini, Bernardo (1861–1879), Dizionario della lingua italiana, 4 vols., Torino: UTET
13. ^ a b c d Tesoro della Lingua Italiana delle Origini (1997–), Opera del Vocabolario Italiano, CNR, Firenze; tlio.ovi.cnr.it
14. ^ Duro, Aldo (ed.) (1986–1994), Vocabolario della lingua italiana, Roma: Istituto della Enciclopedia Italiana; online ed. treccani.it/vocabolario (2008 copy)
15. ^ Sabatini, Francesco; Coletti, Vittorio; Manfredini, Manuela (2026), Dizionario italiano Sabatini Coletti, digital ed., Milano: Sansoni / Rizzoli Larousse