Stylus
/ˈstaɪ.ləs/noun
A pointed instrument for writing, marking, or engraving.
Did you know?Stylus comes from Latin *stylus*, a pointed writing instrument, ultimately linked to Greek *stylos* (“pillar” or “stake”), showing how a word for a rigid point became tied to writing and form.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
stylos
“pillar; post; upright stake”
Classical Latin
Latin
stilus
“pointed stake; writing stylus”
Late Latin
Latin
stylus
“writing instrument; pointed tool for scratching wax tablets”
Middle English
English
stilus
“a pointed instrument for writing”
Modern English
English
stylus
“a pointed tool used for writing, marking, or playing records”