Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “gayole” come from?

gayole (Middle English) comes from Old French gaiole, from Medieval Latin gabiola, from Late Latin caveola, from Latin cavea, from Latin cavus, from Proto-Italic kawos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱowh₁ós, from Proto-Indo-European ḱewh₁- — to swell; to be strong.

Ancestry of “gayole”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchgaioleprison; gaol; jail
2Medieval Latingabiola—
3Late Latincaveola—
4Latincaveahollow, cavity; cage, den, enclosure, stall,...
5Latincavushollow, concave; excavated, channeled;...
6Proto-Italickawos—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱowh₁óshollow
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱewh₁-to swell; to be strong

Words derived from “gayole”

  • jail
  • gaol
  • gaoler
  • jailor
  • jailhouse
  • jailbird
  • jailbreak
  • jailbait
  • gaolbird
  • jailable
  • jailkeeper
  • jailyard
  • jailoress
  • jailtime
  • jailmate
  • jailee
  • jailward
  • nonjail
  • gaolwards
  • gaolkeeper
  • jailbreaker
  • jaillike
  • gaolyard
  • gaoleress
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱewh₁- →