Where does “jailbreak” come from?

jailbreak (French) comes from English jailbreak, from English jail, from Middle English gayole, from Old French gaiole, from Medieval Latin gabiola, from Late Latin caveola, from Latin cavea, from Latin cavus — to swell; to be strong.

jailbreak (French): jailbreak (a modification to the firmware of an electronic device (typically a mobile phone or tablet) to allow the installation and use of software not officially supported by the device's manufacturer)

Definitions

  1. jailbreak (a modification to the firmware of an electronic device (typically a mobile phone or tablet) to allow the installation and use of software not officially supported by the device's manufacturer)

Ancestry of “jailbreak”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishjailbreakAn escape from prison; To escape from prison; To...
2EnglishjailA place or institution for the confinement of...
3Middle Englishgayolejail, prison place for [[confine
4Old Frenchgaioleprison; gaol; jail
5Medieval Latingabiola
6Late Latincaveola
7Latincaveahollow, cavity; cage, den, enclosure, stall,...
8Latincavushollow, concave; excavated, channeled;...
9Proto-Italickawos
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱowh₁óshollow
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱewh₁-to swell; to be strong
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱewh₁-