Where does “jail” come from?
Jail comes from Middle English gayole, from Old English gagel, from Proto-Germanic gagulaz, a word of uncertain original meaning.
jail (English): A place or institution for the confinement of...
Definitions
- A place or institution for the confinement of...
Ancestry of “jail”, 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 |