Where does “signwriting” come from?

signwriting (English) comes from English writing, from Middle English writing, from Old English wrīting, from Old English wrītan, from Proto-West Germanic wrītan, from Proto-Germanic wrītaną, from Proto-Indo-European wēr-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

signwriting (English): Any form of clear lettering designed to be used...

Definitions

  1. Any form of clear lettering designed to be used...

Ancestry of “signwriting”, step by step

signwriting traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English writing

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwritingGraphism of symbols such as letters that express...
2Middle Englishwriting
3Old Englishwrītingwriting
4Old Englishwrītanto incise, engrave; to scratch, carve, write; to...
5Proto-West Germanicwrītanto scratch, to carve
6Proto-Germanicwrītanąto scratch, carve; to engrave, inscribe, write
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwēr-true
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

via English sign

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 wer-Every word from Proto-Indo-European wēr-Every word from Proto-Germanic wrītaną