Meanings
nounoracle bone script (uncountable)
- uncountableThe set of incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones used in divination during Bronze Age China.
Origin
Coined by American missionary Frank Herring Chalfant in 1906.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 甲骨文
- 甲骨文 (jiǎgǔwén)incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
Finnish oraakkeliluukirjoitus
- oraakkeliluukirjoitusincised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
French écriture ossécaille
- écriture ossécailleincised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
Indonesian aksara tulang ramalan
- aksara tulang ramalanincised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
Japanese 甲骨文字, 亀甲獣骨文字
- 甲骨文字 (kōkotsumoji)incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
- 亀甲獣骨文字 (kikkō-jūkotsu-moji)incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
Korean 갑골문자
- 갑골문자 (gapgolmunja)incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
Russian цзягувэ́нь
- цзягувэ́нь (czjaguvɛ́nʹ)incised ancient Chinese characters found on oracle bones
Cite this entry
APA
oracle bone script. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oracle%20bone%20script
MLA
“oracle bone script.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oracle%20bone%20script. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oracle bone script,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oracle%20bone%20script.
Source: oracle bone script on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.