From Middle Dutchinct(“ink”), from Latinencaustum(“the red ink used by Roman and Greek rulers to sign documents”), from Latinencaustus(“paint technique using wax burning”), from Ancient Greekἔγκαυστον(énkauston, “burned-in”), from ἐν(en, “in”) + καίω(kaíō, “burn”). Related to Dutch encaustiek. Cognate with English ink.