Where does “Jewel” come from?
Jewel comes from Middle English jewel, from Old French joiel, from Latin iocus meaning "joke" or "jest," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European yek-.
Jewel (English): from the noun jewel, used since the end of the 19th century
Definitions
- from the noun jewel, used since the end of the 19th century
Ancestry of “Jewel”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | juel | Something of great monetary worth or value,... |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | juel | — |
| 3 | Old French | jouel | jewel; treasure; an object or person of beauty |
| 4 | Vulgar Latin | jocale | graceful object |
| 5 | Latin | iocus | a joke, jest; a form of amusement; pastime, sport |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | jokos | word, saying |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | yokos | word, utterance |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | yek- | to utter |