- sketch (n.)
- "rough drawing intended to serve as the bases for a finished picture," 1660s, from Dutch schets, from Italian schizzo "sketch, drawing," literally "a splash, squirt," from schizzare "to splash or squirt," of uncertain origin, perhaps from Latin schedium "an extemporaneous poem," from Greek skedios "temporary, extemporaneous," related to skhein, aor. inf. of ekhein "to have" (see scheme). German Skizze, French esquisse, Spanish esquicio are from Italian. Extended sense of "brief account" is from 1660s; meaning "short play or performance, usually comic" is from 1789.
- sketch (v.)
- 1690s, from sketch (n.). Related: Sketched; sketcher; sketching.