scythian

adjective

1. pertaining to Scythia, its people, or their language.

noun

2. a native or inhabitant of Scythia.
3. the Iranian language spoken by the ancient Scythians.

adjective

1. of or relating to ancient Scythia, its inhabitants, or their language

noun

2. a member of an ancient nomadic people of Scythia
3. the extinct language of this people, belonging to the East Iranian branch of the Indo-European family

n.1540s, from Latin Scythia, from Greek Skythia, name anciently given to the region along the north coast of the Black Sea, from Skythes “a Scythian,” said to be from an Indo-European root meaning “shepherd” [Room]. As an adjective from 1560s. Herodotus is responsible for Scythian disease or Scythian insanity.