In the Middle Ages, Roman scribes would make a cross when there was a clerical error in copying, indicating cancellation. Many forks are connected together to form XXXX, just like a diagonal railing. This kind of inclined railing is cancelli in Latin. Later, it evolved into the English word cancel, which means "cancel". From Latin carcer. At first, it refers to prisons and fences, and later it refers to diagonal fences that form fences, which are shaped like the letter X, thus extending the meaning of deletion. See imprisonment. Etymology from excellent words