Pedestrian Signal
/pəˈdɛs.tri.ən ˈsɪɡ.nəl/noun
A visual or audible device that tells people when it is safe or permitted to cross a road.
Did you know?Pedestrian comes from Latin pes, “foot,” the same ancient root behind words such as impede and expedition—so every pedestrian signal is, linguistically, a command directed at human feet.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ped-
“Foot; the anatomical basis of walking and movement”
Classical Latin
Latin
pēs / pedis
“Foot”
17th Century
English
pedestrian
“A person traveling or walking on foot”
Classical Latin
Latin
signum
“A mark, token, sign, or signal”
Late Latin
Latin
signāle
“A sign used to convey information”
15th Century
English
signal
“A sign or action intended to communicate”
20th Century
English
pedestrian signal
“A road-control device communicating when people may cross”