An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A small starlike symbol (*), used in printing or writing as a reference mark, as an indication of the omission of letters or words, to denote a hypothetical linguistic form, or for various arbitrary meanings.

Etymology (EN): M.E. astarisc, from L.L. asteriscus, from Gk. asteriskos “small star,” from aster-, → astro- + -ikos “diminutive suffix.”

Etymology (PE): Axtarak, from axtar “star” → astro- + -ak “diminutive suffix.”