Kufic
/ˈkjuːfɪk/noun
Relating to an early angular style of Arabic script used in manuscripts, inscriptions, and decoration.
Did you know?Kufic is named after Kufa in Iraq, and its stark geometric shapes were so revered that it became one of the most powerful visual forms of sacred writing in early Islam.
Etymological Timeline
Early Islamic period
Arabic
kūfī
“Of or from Kufa; used for the angular script associated with the city”
7th Century
Arabic
al-Kūfa
“The city of Kufa in present-day Iraq”
Late Medieval Period
Old French
cufique
“Relating to the angular Arabic script known from Islamic manuscripts”
16th Century
English
Cufic
“A term for the early angular Arabic script”
Modern English
English
Kufic
“An early angular style of Arabic calligraphy and ornament”