Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “signage” come from?

Signage derives from English sign, ultimately from Latin signum meaning "mark" or "token."

signage (English): Signs, particularly those imparting commercial,...

Definitions

  1. Signs, particularly those imparting commercial,...

Ancestry of “signage”, step by step

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