asterisk (n.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict[asterisk 词源字典]
"figure used in printing and writing to indicate footnote, omission, etc.," late 14c., asterich, asterisc, from Late Latin asteriscus, from Greek asterikos "little star," diminutive of aster "star" (see astro-). As a verb from 1733.[asterisk etymology, asterisk origin, 英语词源]