Where does “jewel” come from?

Jewel derives from Middle English juel, from Old French joiel, from Latin iocus meaning "joke" or "jest," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European yek-.

jewel (English): A precious or semi-precious stone; gem, gemstone;...

Definitions

  1. A precious or semi-precious stone; gem, gemstone;...

Ancestry of “jewel”, step by step

jewel traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Middle English jewel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishjewelAlternative form of juel
2Middle EnglishjuelSomething of great monetary worth or value,...
3Anglo-Normanjuel—
4Old Frenchjoueljewel; treasure; an object or person of beauty
5Vulgar Latinjocalegraceful object
6Latiniocusa joke, jest; a form of amusement; pastime, sport
7Proto-Italicjokosword, saying
8Proto-Indo-Europeanyokosword, utterance
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyek-to utter

via Middle English juwel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishjuwelAlternative form of juel

via Middle English jeuel

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishjeuelAlternative form of juel

Words derived from “jewel”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European yek- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European yokos →Every word from Proto-Italic jokos →