markings, as initials, slogans, or drawings, written, spray-
painted, or sketched on a sidewalk, wall of a building or public
restroom, or the likeLast week The Wall Street Journal had an
article by Jeffrey Zaslow titled "Erasing Signatures From
History." The article details a controversy over the removal of
what is, in effect, graffiti in a Pennsylvania classroom. I'm
sure you'll find it an interesting read! The Dictionary.com
definition also contains information about the word's origins.
Graffiti comes from the Italian plural of graffito incised
inscription or design, derivative with -ito -ite of graffiare to
scratch, perhaps influenced by presumed Latin graphire to write;
both probably derivative of Latin graphium stylusGraffiti has
been found scratched on walls in the ruins of Pompeii and in
such places as Signature Rock in Wyoming along the Oregon Trail.
In 20th century America, cities were often covered in spray-
painted graffiti. To some it's vandalism, to others it is an
artistic expression. To see some