Where does “juggle” come from?

Juggle comes from Middle English jogelen, from Middle English jogeler, with the original sense of performing tricks or deceptions.

juggle (English): To manipulate objects, such as balls, clubs,...

Definitions

  1. To manipulate objects, such as balls, clubs,...

Ancestry of “juggle”, step by step

juggle traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old French jogler

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchjogler—
2Latiniocularipresent active infinitive of ioculor
3LatinioculorAlternative form of iocor; to jest, to make fun;...
4Latinioculusa little jest
5Latiniocusa joke, jest; a form of amusement; pastime, sport
6Proto-Italicjokosword, saying
7Proto-Indo-Europeanyokosword, utterance
8Proto-Indo-Europeanyek-to utter

via Middle English jogelen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishjogelen—
2Middle Englishjogelerjuggler
3Old Englishġeogolerejuggler; magician; wizard

Words derived from “juggle”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European yek- →