means A rapid method of writing using symbols or abbreviations to keep pace with speech, or, by extension, any abbreviated or simplified way of expressing something.

from A plain English compound, literally 'short hand' — 'hand' here meaning handwriting, as in a clear or elegant 'hand.' It dates to the early 17th century, when systems for swift note-taking were being devised; the older rival term was 'brachygraphy,' from Greek 'brakhus' (short) and 'graphein' (to write), but the homely English version won out.