Telegraph
/ˈtɛl.ɪ.ɡræf/noun
A system for transmitting messages over long distances using coded signals.
Did you know?The telegraph was seen as a form of 'talking wire', believed to bridge the gap between the living and the spirit world, echoing ancient practices of communication with the unseen.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
τηλεγράφος (tēlegraphos)
“Distant writer, from 'tēle' (far off) + 'grapho' (to write).”
18th Century
French
télégraphe
“A device for long-distance communication utilizing visible signals.”
19th Century
English
telegraph
“An apparatus for sending messages by wire over distances, revolutionizing communication.”
19th Century
English
telegraphy
“The practice or technology of transmitting messages via telegraph.”
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