Decal
/ˈdiː.kæl/noun
A design or picture printed on special paper for transfer onto another surface.
Did you know?Decal is a shortened form of decalcomania, a 19th-century transfer-printing term from French, ultimately built on Greek roots meaning ‘transfer’ and ‘image,’ not occult ritual.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
French
décalcomanie
“A process of transferring a design from one prepared surface to another”
19th Century
English
decalcomania
“A transfer-print design or the process of making one”
20th Century
English
decal
“A shortened form referring to a transfer picture or design”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kalós
“Beautiful, fine, or lovely”
Ancient Greek
Greek
diá-
“Across, through, or over”
Explore more surprising origins