Where does “signalese” come from?

signalese (English) comes from English signal, from Old French segnal, from Medieval Latin signale, from Latin signālis, from Latin signum, from Proto-Italic seknom, from Proto-Indo-European sek- — to cut, cut off, sever.

signalese (English): Words and abbreviations used by radio operators...

Definitions

  1. Words and abbreviations used by radio operators...

Ancestry of “signalese”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsignalA sequence of states representing an encoded...
2Old Frenchsegnalemblem; badge; signature; distinguishing mark...
3Medieval Latinsignalesignal
4Latinsignālis
5Latinsignumvisible indication: sign, mark, signal; seal,...
6Proto-Italicseknomsign
7Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek-Every word from Proto-Italic seknomEvery word from Latin signum
signalese — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer