paraph

[par-uh f, puh-raf]

noun

a flourish made after a signature, as in a document, originally as a precaution against forgery.

Origin of paraph

1350–1400; Middle English paraf < Italian parafo or Middle French paraphe paragraph mark (by syncope; see paragraph)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for paraph

Historical Examples of paraph

"He has now added this crown and this paraph to his coat-of-arms," said Miss Holland.
Henry VIII And His Court
Louise Muhlbach
Paraph, par′af, n. a mark or flourish under one's signature.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)
Various

British Dictionary definitions for paraph

paraph

noun

a flourish after a signature, originally to prevent forgery

Word Origin for paraph

C14: via French from Medieval Latin paraphus, variant of paragraphus paragraph

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012