An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Griffel

by Friedrich Kluge

Griffel, m., ‘slate pencil, graving tool, stylus,’ from the equiv. MidHG. griffel, OHG. griffil, m.; related to greifen as Halter to halten?. Yet it is more probably based on a Teut. root grep, ‘to dig’; comp. Swed. urgrœpa, ‘to excavate,’ OSwed. and OIc. grôp, ‘pit,’ LG. Grüppe, ‘gutter.’