From Greek 'Lakonikos' (of Laconia/Sparta) — the Spartans were famous for devastatingly brief speech.
Using very few words; concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious.
From Latin 'Laconicus,' from Greek 'Lakōnikós' (Λακωνικός, of or from Laconia). Laconia (Λακωνία, Lakōnía) was the region of the southeastern Peloponnese of which Sparta was the capital. The Spartans — also called Laconians or Lacedaemonians — were famous in the ancient world for their extremely terse, pointed speech. When Philip II of Macedon threatened Sparta with 'If I invade Laconia, I shall turn you out,' the Spartans replied with a single word: 'If' (αἴκα, aíka). This tradition of devastating brevity gave Greek 'Lakōnízein' (to talk like a Laconian) and English 'laconic.' Key roots: Lakōnía (Λακωνία) (Ancient Greek: "Laconia, the region around Sparta").
The most famous laconic response in history: When Philip II of Macedon sent a message to Sparta saying 'If I invade Laconia, I shall turn you out,' the Spartan ephors sent back a single word: 'If' (αἴκα). Philip never invaded. Later, when Alexander the Great demanded Spartan submission with a similar threat, the Spartans reportedly replied: 'Neither.' Brevity was their weapon as much as the spear