Where does “Auslan” come from?
Auslan (English) comes from English sign, from Middle English signe, from Old English seġn, from Latin signum, from Proto-Italic seknom, from Proto-Indo-European sek- — to cut, cut off, sever.
Ancestry of “Auslan”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | sign | A visible indication; Physical evidence left by... |
| 2 | Middle English | signe | — |
| 3 | Old English | seġn | sign; mark; token |
| 4 | Latin | signum | visible indication: sign, mark, signal; seal,... |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | seknom | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sek- | to cut, cut off, sever |