'defacement' originates from the Old French word 'desfacier', where 'des-' meant 'away' and 'facier' meant 'to make or do'.

'desfacier' transformed into the Middle English word 'defacen', and eventually became the modern English word 'deface'.

Initially, it meant 'to do away with the face or surface', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'spoiling the surface or appearance of something'.