C19: from French: comma, from Latin virgula a little rod, from virga rod
virgule in American English
(ˈvɜrˌgjul)
noun
a short diagonal line (/) used between two words to show either is applicable (and/or), in dates or fractions (3/8), to express “per” (feet/second), etc.; slash
Word origin
Fr < L virgula, small rod, twig, dim. of virga: see verge1