The name of this gray-to-black mineral comes from the Greek for "to write"
[DOC] [TLE] Graphite | Define Graphite at Dictionary.com [PAR] a very common mineral, soft native carbon, occurring in black to dark-gray ... 
1790-1800; < German Graphit < Greek grph (ein) to write, draw + German -it -ite
1 ... as a tough lightweight material for sporting equipment Also called plumbago.