'telegraphic' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from 'telegraph' + the suffix '-ic', where the prefix 'tele-' meant 'far' and Greek 'graphein' meant 'to write'.

'telegraph' comes from French 'télégraphe' (or New Latin 'telegraphus'), ultimately from Greek elements 'tele-' + 'graphein'; 'telegraphic' developed by adding the adjective-forming suffix '-ic' to refer to things relating to the telegraph or its style.

Initially it meant 'relating to a telegraph or telegraphy', but over time it also came to mean 'very concise or terse' (like messages sent by telegraph).