Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “ajar” come from?

ajar (Middle English) comes from Middle English char, from Old English ċierr, from Proto-Germanic karzijaną, from Proto-Indo-European ǵers- — to turn, bend, twist; to twist; to plait things...

Ancestry of “ajar”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcharturn, occasion
2Old Englishċierra turn, change, time, occasion, affair, business
3Proto-Germanickarzijanąto turn, sweep
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵers-to turn, bend, twist; to twist; to plait things...

Words derived from “ajar”

  • ajar
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵers- →