Where does “jailbait” come from?
jailbait (English) comes from English jail, from Middle English gayole, from Old French gaiole, from Medieval Latin gabiola, from Late Latin caveola, from Latin cavea, from Latin cavus, from Proto-Italic kawos — to swell; to be strong.
jailbait (English): A sexually mature person below the legal age of...
Definitions
- A sexually mature person below the legal age of...
Ancestry of “jailbait”, step by step
jailbait traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English jail
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | jail | A place or institution for the confinement of... |
| 2 | Middle English | gayole | jail, prison place for [[confine |
| 3 | Old French | gaiole | prison; gaol; jail |
| 4 | Medieval Latin | gabiola | — |
| 5 | Late Latin | caveola | — |
| 6 | Latin | cavea | hollow, cavity; cage, den, enclosure, stall,... |
| 7 | Latin | cavus | hollow, concave; excavated, channeled;... |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | kawos | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱowh₁ós | hollow |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱewh₁- | to swell; to be strong |
via English bait
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | bait | Any substance, especially food, used in catching... |
| 2 | Middle English | bayte | Bait or lure; objects used as a bait or lure;... |
| 3 | Old Norse | beita | to graze; to allow, let, make bite; to steer or... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | baitō | That which is or can be bitten; food; bait |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeyd- | to split |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰey- | bee |