A pointed tool used to write, draw, or mark surfaces, or a needle that reads grooves in vinyl records.
From Latin 'stilus,' meaning a pointed writing instrument used by Romans on wax tablets. The word evolved to describe any pointed tool for marking, and later was applied to the needle in record players. Modern usage includes the digital stylus for touchscreen devices.
The ancient Romans invented the stylus around 100 BCE, and we're basically still using the same word and concept today—except now it's a piece of plastic you tap on your iPad! It's wild how a 2,000-year-old tool name stuck around.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.