Where does “jailhouse” come from?
Jailhouse combines English jail and house, where house derives from Middle English hus and Proto-Germanic hūsą, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to dwell or inhabit.
jailhouse (English): A building containing a prison
Definitions
- A building containing a prison
Ancestry of “jailhouse”, step by step
jailhouse 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 House
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | House | A particular chamber of political representation |
| 2 | Middle English | hous | house, residence; house of worship, temple;... |
| 3 | Old English | hūs | dwelling, shelter, house; house |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | hūs | house |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hūsą | house |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kewH- | to cover, bedeck; cover |