Signmakers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A person or business that creates visual displays and advertisements using various materials and techniques for communication purposes
2. An individual or company specializing in the design and production of signs intended to convey information, branding, or direction
3. A professional entity engaged in manufacturing signage, utilizing skills in graphic design and craftsmanship to meet client needs

Etymology: "Signmakers" is the plural of "signmaker," a compound formed from "sign" and "maker." The first part comes from Latin "signum," a mark or token, which passed through Old French "signe" into English, while "maker" is an ordinary English agent word built on the verb "make." Put together, a signmaker is simply one who makes signs, and the plural refers to a group of such tradespeople or firms. The compound is transparent in a way many trade names are not. Nothing about the word hides a special history: its parts stay visible, and their meanings add up directly. That plainness is typical of occupational compounds in English, which were often formed by joining a noun for the product with a noun for the person who produces it, such as "bookbinder" or "wheelwright."