Where does “joke theft” come from?

joke theft (English) comes from English joke, from Latin iocus, from Proto-Italic jokos, from Proto-Indo-European yokos, from Proto-Indo-European yek- — to utter.

joke theft (English): The appropriation of a comedian's material passed off as one's own

Definitions

  1. The appropriation of a comedian's material passed off as one's own

Ancestry of “joke theft”, step by step

joke theft traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English joke

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishjokeAn amusing story; Something said or done for...
2Latiniocusa joke, jest; a form of amusement; pastime, sport
3Proto-Italicjokosword, saying
4Proto-Indo-Europeanyokosword, utterance
5Proto-Indo-Europeanyek-to utter

via English theft

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtheftThe act of stealing property
2Middle EnglishtheftTheft, stealing, robbery; Financial fraud; the...
3Old Englishþīefþtheft
Every word from Proto-Indo-European yek- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European yokos →Every word from Proto-Italic jokos →