oscan

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

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

noun

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

adjective

3. of or relating to this language

adj.of or pertaining to the ancient people of southern Italy, 1590s, from Latin Osci, Opsci (plural) “Oscans,” literally “worshippers of Ops,” a harvest goddess, the name related to Latin ops (genitive opis) “abundance, plenty, wealth, riches,” from PIE *op- “to work, to produce in abundance” (see opus).