grámma

From γράφω (gráphō, “I write”) +‎ -μα (-ma, result noun suffix).

About its weight meaning there are two theories:

• It was taken from Latin scrūpulus, which in its meaning, "smallest division of weight", was more frequently written scrūpulum, scrīpulum, and by some fancied derivation from scrīptum was written scrīptulum, scrīptlum. Hence it was later translated in Ancient Greek as γράμμα from γράφω (gráphō, “to write”), as scrīptulum from scrībō (“to write”).
• It was a Semitic borrowing, with the measure tallied to the stones or pits of small fruits, Jewish Palestinian Aramaic גרוֹם (grūm, “kernel”), Classical Syriac ܓܪܽܘܡܳܐ (grūmā, “bone; kernel, stone, pit”), Arabic جَرَام (jarām, “date-stone”), related to the common גַּרְמָא / ܓܰܪܡܳܐ (garmā, “bone; kernel, stone, pit”).

Pronunciation

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• IPA^(key): /ɡrám.ma/ → /ˈɣram.ma/ → /ˈɣra.ma/

Noun

γράμμα • (grámma) n (genitive γράμματος); third declension

1. that which is written, that which is drawn, picture
2. letter
3. (in the plural) alphabet
4. writing, book
5. a kind of small weight, 1/24 of an ounce, scruple