'glyphic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'glyphē' meaning 'carving' or 'engraving', combined with the adjectival suffix '-ic' (via Latin/Neo-Latin formation).

'glyphē' passed into Neo-Latin and later into English as 'glyph' (17th–18th century) to denote a carved or inscribed symbol; the adjective 'glyphic' was formed by adding the suffix '-ic' to mean 'pertaining to glyphs'.

Initially associated with 'carving' or 'engraving' in the literal sense; over time it has come to mean 'relating to glyphs or glyph-like marks', including decorative or symbolic inscriptions and motifs.