* "Tele" (Greek: τηλε) means "far" or "distant".
* "Graph" (Greek: γραφή) means "writing" or "drawing".
Therefore, "telegraph" literally means "to write from afar" or "to draw at a distance".
This perfectly encapsulates the core function of the telegraph, which allowed the transmission of messages over long distances using a system of electrical signals.
The term itself was coined in the early 19th century, around the time of the invention of the electric telegraph. While the actual invention is attributed to several individuals, the term "telegraph" is credited to Sir William Fothergill Cooke and Charles Wheatstone in 1837, who were instrumental in developing the first commercially successful electric telegraph system.