Oscan

[ os-kuhn ]

noun

1. one of an ancient people of south-central Italy.
2. the Indo-European, probably Italic, language of the Oscans, written in an alphabet derived from the Etruscan.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Oscans or their language.

Oscan

/ ˈɒskən /

noun

1. See Osco-Umbrian
   an extinct language of ancient S Italy belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European family See also Osco-Umbrian
2. a speaker of this language; Samnite

adjective

1. of or relating to this language

Other Words From

• non-Oscan adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Oscan¹

1590–1600; Latin Osc(ī) the Oscans + -an

Example Sentences

The use, but probably not the restriction, appears in Oscan and Umbrian.

From Project Gutenberg

Ennius said that he had three hearts, for he spoke threexiv tongues—the Greek, the Oscan, and the Latin.

From Project Gutenberg

The language used was that of every-day life, and they were often written in the Oscan dialect.

From Project Gutenberg

In the Oscan and Umbrian dialects, whose alphabet was borrowed from Etruscan, a special form appears for f, viz.

From Project Gutenberg

On its base was an Oscan inscription, which has been interpreted as follows by Minervini: Marius.

From Project Gutenberg