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.

Auslan (English): The sign language of the Australian deaf community

Definitions

  1. The sign language of the Australian deaf community

Ancestry of “Auslan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsignA visible indication; Physical evidence left by...
2Middle Englishsigne—
3Old Englishseġnsign; mark; token
4Latinsignumvisible indication: sign, mark, signal; seal,...
5Proto-Italicseknomsign
6Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek- →
Auslan — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer