Etymology

Mishnaic: possibly via Aramaic דפתרא / ܕܦܬܪܐ ‎(dptrʾ, “hide; account book”), form Ancient Greek διφθέρα ‎(diphthéra, “prepared hide, piece of leather; anything made of leather”). Compare with Arabic دَفْتَر ‎(daftar, “register; notebook”)