Where does “Signal” come from?

Signal (Luxembourgish) comes from German Signal, from French 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.

Signal (Luxembourgish): signal

Definitions

  1. signal

Ancestry of “Signal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanSignalsignal
2Frenchsignalsignal
3Old Frenchsegnalemblem; badge; signature; distinguishing mark...
4Medieval Latinsignalesignal
5Latinsignālis
6Latinsignumvisible indication: sign, mark, signal; seal,...
7Proto-Italicseknomsign
8Proto-Indo-Europeansek-to cut, cut off, sever
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sek-Every word from Proto-Italic seknomEvery word from Latin signum