Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. A place or institution for the confinement of...

Ancestry of “jail”, 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 “jail”

  • jailor
  • jailhouse
  • jailbird
  • jailbreak
  • jailbait
  • jailable
  • jailkeeper
  • jailyard
  • jailoress
  • jailtime
  • jailmate
  • jailee
  • jailward
  • nonjail
  • jailbreaker
  • jaillike
  • jaildom
  • rejail
  • enjail
  • jailless
  • superjail
  • जेल
  • जेलख़ाना
  • דזשעיל
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱewh₁- →