ink

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A coloured liquid used for writing or printing.

   Please fill out this form in black ink.

2. 2
   verb

   To cover or mark something with ink.

   She inked the stamp and pressed it onto the paper.

3. 3
   noun

   The dark fluid that a squid or octopus releases to defend itself.

   The octopus shot a cloud of ink and escaped.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Ink entered Middle English through French from Latin encaustum, the name of a purple writing fluid used by Roman emperors for their signatures. The Latin word came from Greek enkaiein, “to burn in.” The black liquid ejected by a cuttlefish has also been called ink since the late 16th century.

From Middle English ynke, from Old French enque, from Latin encaustum (“purple ink used by Roman emperors to sign documents”), from Ancient Greek ἔγκαυστον (énkauston, “burned-in”), from ἐν (en, “in”) + καίω (kaíō, “burn”). In this sense, displaced native Old English blæc (“ink”, literally “black”). Sense four refers to the ink used in newspapers.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary