Where does “juke” come from?

Juke derives from Middle English jowken, from Fula jukka, of unknown ultimate origin.

juke (English): A roadside cafe or bar, especially one with...

Definitions

  1. A roadside cafe or bar, especially one with...

Ancestry of “juke”, step by step

juke traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Scots jouk

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Scotsjoukto duck; to move away quickly to avoid (something); to evade
2Scotsdeukduck
3Middle Englishdukeleader, guide, commander, boss; noble, lord; duke
4Old Frenchducduke
5Latinduxleader, head; commander, general, captain;...
6Latindūcōto lead, guide, conduct, lead away
7Proto-Italicdoukōlead
8Proto-Indo-Europeandéwketi
9Proto-Indo-Europeandewk-to pull, to draw; to lead

via Gullah juke

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GullahjukeAlternate spelling of jook
2Wolofdzugto lead a wicked life

via Jamaican Creole jook

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Jamaican Creolejookpierce, prick, poke, prod, stick; stab; thrust...
2FulajukkaTo poke

Words derived from “juke

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dewk-
juke — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer