signation

noun — 2 senses

signation

noun

/sɪɡˈneɪʃən/

Etymology Latin signātiō. See sign (verb).

1

Obsolete A sign given, especially of a cross

2

Obsolete a marking.

  • Thus the Aſſe having a peculiar mark of a croſſe made by a black liſt down his back, and another athwart, or at right angles down his ſhoulders; common opinion aſcribes this figure unto a peculiar ſignation; ſince that beaſt had the honour to bear our Saviour on his back.1650, Thomas Browne, “Of the Same [i.e., the Blacknesse of Negroes]”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 6th book, page 282:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.