Scrapbook
/ˈskræp.bʊk/noun
A book for pasting in clippings, pictures, mementos, or notes.
Did you know?The word is a transparent compound of two everyday English words, but its history reflects an old human habit: treating discarded fragments as something worth preserving, arranging, and giving new meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
scræp
“A shred, fragment, or small piece cut or torn off.”
Old English
OE
bōc
“A book, document, or written record.”
Middle English
English
scrap bok
“A book for pasted-in scraps, clippings, and miscellaneous bits.”
19th Century
English
scrap-book
“A bound book used to collect and preserve scraps of paper, pictures, and memorabilia.”
Modern English
English
scrapbook
“A book or digital collection used for assembling memories, images, and keepsakes.”