Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “jeweller” come from?

Jeweller comes from English jewel, influenced by Old French -er, Latin -arius (agent suffix from -are), and ultimately Latin iocus meaning play or jest.

jeweller (English): Alternative spelling of jeweler

Definitions

  1. Alternative spelling of jeweler

Ancestry of “jeweller”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishjewelA precious or semi-precious stone; gem, gemstone;...
2Middle EnglishjewelAlternative form of juel
3Middle EnglishjuelSomething of great monetary worth or value,...
4Anglo-Normanjuel—
5Old Frenchjoueljewel; treasure; an object or person of beauty
6Vulgar Latinjocalegraceful object
7Latiniocusa joke, jest; a form of amusement; pastime, sport
8Proto-Italicjokosword, saying
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyokosword, utterance
10Proto-Indo-Europeanyek-to utter
Every word from Proto-Indo-European yek- →