Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. Dated spelling of jail

Ancestry of “gaol”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgayole—
2Old Frenchgaioleprison; gaol; jail
3Medieval Latingabiola—
4Late Latincaveola—
5Latincaveahollow, cavity; cage, den, enclosure, stall,...
6Latincavushollow, concave; excavated, channeled;...
7Proto-Italickawos—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱowh₁óshollow
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱewh₁-to swell; to be strong

Words derived from “gaol”

  • gaoler
  • gaolbird
  • gaolkeeper
  • gaolwards
  • gaolyard
  • gaoleress
  • engaol
  • gaolable
  • gaoldom
  • gaolish
  • gaolward
  • gaolless
  • gaolmate
  • gaolbreaker
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱewh₁- →