Cartoon
/kɑːrˈtuːn/noun
A humorous or simplified drawing, or a motion-picture animation.
Did you know?The word entered English from Italian and French art terminology, where a cartoon was a full-size preparatory drawing for frescoes or tapestries—not a joke picture at all.
Etymological Timeline
Late 13th Century
Italian
cartone
“Large paper; a heavy piece of paper or pasteboard”
16th Century
Italian
cartone
“A full-size preparatory drawing for a fresco, tapestry, or painting”
16th Century
French
carton
“A large drawing or design on strong paper”
17th Century
English
cartoon
“A preparatory drawing for artwork or decoration”
19th Century
English
cartoon
“A satirical drawing in a newspaper or magazine”
20th Century
English
cartoon
“An animated film or TV program”