sketchpad
UK[ˈsketʃpæd]US[ˈsketʃpæd]
n
a pad of paper used for drawing preliminary designs or sketches.
n
a computer program or device that allows a user to draw freehand.
Morpheme Breakdown
sketch
pad
sketch
a rough drawing
pad
a number of sheets of paper fastened together at one edge
Etymology
the word "sketchpad" is a modern english compound, formed by combining two distinct words. "sketch" entered english in the 17th century from the dutch schets, itself borrowed from italian schizzo, meaning "a splash" or "a rough drawing," which traces back to latin schedium meaning "an extemporaneous poem." "pad" is of middle english origin, possibly from a low german or dutch word for a "bundle" or "pack." the literal combination, "a pad for sketches," directly describes the physical object. with the advent of computing, the term was logically extended to digital drawing surfaces, maintaining the core concept of a tool for making preliminary or freehand drawings.
Analysis
Structure: sketch + pad
- sketch: from dutch schets or german skizze, from italian schizzo, meaning "a rough drawing".
- pad: from english, meaning "a number of sheets of paper fastened together at one edge".
Examples
the architect quickly jotted down his ideas on his sketchpad.
this graphic designer uses a digital sketchpad for all her illustrations.
she always carries a small sketchpad in her bag to capture scenes from daily life.