Where does “gaol” come from?
Gaol comes from Middle English gayole, from Old English gagel, from Proto-Germanic gagulaz, a word of uncertain origin and meaning.
gaol (English): Dated spelling of jail
Definitions
- Dated spelling of jail
Ancestry of “gaol”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | gayole | jail, prison place for [[confine |
| 2 | Old French | gaiole | prison; gaol; jail |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | gabiola | — |
| 4 | Late Latin | caveola | — |
| 5 | Latin | cavea | hollow, cavity; cage, den, enclosure, stall,... |
| 6 | Latin | cavus | hollow, concave; excavated, channeled;... |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | kawos | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱowh₁ós | hollow |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱewh₁- | to swell; to be strong |