It's actually a brand name, specifically referring to pens made by the company Bic. However, it has become so commonly used that it's often used generically to refer to any ballpoint pen, much like "Kleenex" is used for tissues.
It's actually a brand name, specifically referring to pens made by the company Bic. However, it has become so commonly used that it's often used generically to refer to any ballpoint pen, much like "Kleenex" is used for tissues.