Where does “jailbreak” come from?

jailbreak (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.

jailbreak (English): An escape from prison; To escape from prison; To...

Definitions

  1. An escape from prison; To escape from prison; To...

Ancestry of “jailbreak”, step by step

jailbreak traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English jail

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishjailA place or institution for the confinement of...
2Middle Englishgayolejail, prison place for [[confine
3Old Frenchgaioleprison; gaol; jail
4Medieval Latingabiola
5Late Latincaveola
6Latincaveahollow, cavity; cage, den, enclosure, stall,...
7Latincavushollow, concave; excavated, channeled;...
8Proto-Italickawos
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱowh₁óshollow
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱewh₁-to swell; to be strong

via English break

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbreakTo separate into two or more pieces, to fracture...
2Middle Englishbrekento break
3Old Englishbrecanto break; to break into a place
4Proto-West Germanicbrekanto break
5Proto-Germanicbrekanąto break
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrēǵ-to shine, shimmer

Words derived from “jailbreak

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱewh₁-