paraph

Meanings

Noun

• A flourish made after or below one's signature, originally to prevent forgery.
• A mark used by medieval rubricators to indicate textual division.

Verb

• To add a paraph to; to sign, especially with one's initials.

Origin

• Image:JohnHancockSignature.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[w:John Hancock|John Hancock's signature on the United States Declaration of Independence is famous for its size and its bold paraph.]]
• From Middle French paraphe, paraffe.