croquis

[kroh-kee, kraw-kee]

noun

plural

croquis 

1. a rough preliminary drawing; sketch.

Word History and Origins

Origin of croquis¹

1800–10; < French, equivalent to croqu ( er ) to make a quick sketch of, rough out, (earlier) know (a subject) superficially (apparently to be identified with croquer to crunch; croquette ) + -is noun suffix ( penthouse )

Example Sentences

She was like, “I want my women to look like croquis.”

From Los Angeles Times

Artists make croquis for different reasons.

From Literature

So Theo appears to us in a series of croquis.

From Literature

While learning how to draw the human figure, an artist uses each croquis to concentrate on a different part of the body, a different pose: how an arm bends throwing a ball, what the hand looks like when grasping a paintbrush or a fishing pole or a lovers hand.

From Literature

A croquis is made quickly, the artist drawing for just a few minutes, while the model holds one pose.

From Literature