Oscan

American  

[os-kuhn] / ˈɒs kən /

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.

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adjective

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

Oscan British  

/ ˈɒskən /

noun

1. 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

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adjective

1. of or relating to this language

Other Word Forms

• non-Oscan adjective

Etymology

Origin of Oscan

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

Example Sentences

Some writers have even asserted, that the Twelve tables were originally written in the Oscan dialect.

From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I by Dunlop, John

I have frequently stated that the Oscan language, in which the Atellan farces were written, had once been the only tongue, and had continued to be the popular dialect of the Pompeians.

From The Wonders of Pompeii by Monnier, Marc

As the Roman language improved, and the provincial tongues of ancient Italy became less known, the Oscan dialect was gradually abandoned.

From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume I by Dunlop, John

This town either changed its name or perished some time after the middle of the 3rd century B.C., when it was issuing coins of its own with an Oscan legend.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 2 "French Literature" to "Frost, William" by Various

You will find some very old buildings in it, proclaiming an ancient origin, and Oscan inscriptions recalling the antique language of the country.

From The Wonders of Pompeii by Monnier, Marc