A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

John --- masc. proper name, c.1160, from M.L. Johannes, from L.L. Joannes, from Gk. Ioannes, from Heb. Yohanan (in full y'hohanan) lit. "Jehovah has favored," from hanan "he was gracious." As the name of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, it was one of the most common Christian given names, and in England by early 14c. it rivaled William in popularity. O.Fr. form was Jean, but in England its variants Johan, Jehan yielded Jan, Jen (cf. surname Jensen). Welsh form was Ieuan, (see Evan), but Ioan was adopted for the Welsh Authorized Version of the Bible, hence frequency of Jones as a Welsh surname. Feminine form was Joan, Latinized as Johanna. Colloquial John Hancock "signature" (1903, sometimes, through some unexplainable error, John Henry) is from the signer of the Declaration of Independence, either from his signing first or most prominently. The family name is attested from 1276 in Yorkshire, a dim. (see cock) of Hann, a very common given name in 13c. Yorkshire as a pet name for Henry or John. Johnny-come-lately first attested 1839.

john --- toilet, 1932, probably from jack, jakes, used for "toilet" since 16c. (see jack). Meaning "prostitute's customer" is from 1911, probably from the common, and thus anonymous, name by which they identified themselves.

John Bull --- Englishman who exemplifies the national character, 1772, from name of a character representing the English nation in Arbuthnot's satire "History of John Bull" (1712).

John Doe --- fictitious plaintiff in a legal action, attested from 1768 (in Blackstone). The fictitious defendant was Richard Roe. By 1852, John Doe was being used for "any man whose name is not known." John Doe warrant attested from 1935. John Q. Public "average American citizen" is from 1937. In legal usage, John Doe replaced earlier John-a-nokes (1531), who usually was paired with John-a-stiles.

johnny-cake --- 1739, Amer.Eng., of unknown origin, perhaps from Shawnee cake, from the Indian tribe. Folk etymology since 1775, however, connects it to journey cake.

johnson --- penis, 1863, perhaps related to British slang John Thomas, which has the same meaning (1887).

join --- 1297, from O.Fr. joindre, from L. jungere "to join, yoke," from PIE *yeug- "to join, unite" (see jugular). A joiner (1386) was a craftsman who did lighter and more ornamental work than a carpenter. Join up "enlist in the army" is from 1916. Phrase if you can't beat them, join them is from 1955. Out of joint in the fig. sense is from 1415.

joint (n.) --- c.1290, "a part of a body where two bones meet and move in contact with one another," from O.Fr. joint, from L. junctus, pp. of jungere "join" (see jugular). Slang meaning of "place, building, establishment" (esp. one where persons meet for shady activities) first recorded 1877, Amer.Eng., from an earlier Anglo-Irish sense (1821), perhaps on the notion of a side-room, one "joined" to a main room. The original U.S. sense was especially of "an opium-smoking den." Meaning "marijuana cigarette" (1938) is perhaps from notion of something often smoked in common, but there are other possibilities; earlier joint in drug slang meant "hypodermic outfit" (1935). Meaning "prison" is from 1953.

joist --- 1375 (attested from 1294 in Anglo-L.), from O.Fr. giste "beam supporting a bridge" (Mod.Fr. gîte), noun use of fem. pp. of gesir "to lie," from L. jacere "to lie, rest," related to jacere "to throw" (see jet (v.)). Notion is of wooden beam on which boards "lie down."

joke --- 1670, joque, "a jest, something done to excite laughter," from L. jocus "joke, sport, pastime," from PIE base *yek- "to speak" (cf. Bret. iez "language," O.H.G. jehan "to say," Ger. Beichte "confession"). Originally a colloquial or slang word. Meaning "something not to be taken seriously" is 1791. Joker, meaning "odd face card in the deck" is from 1885, probably from earlier slang sense of "man, fellow, chap" (1811).

jolly --- c.1305, from O.Fr. jolif "festive, merry, amorous, pretty" of uncertain origin (cf. It. giulivo "merry, pleasant"), perhaps a Gmc. loan-word from a source akin to O.N. jol "a winter feast" (see yule), or from L. gaudere "to rejoice." Jollification "merrymaking" is from 1809; shortened form jolly led to phrase get (one's) jollies "have fun" (1957). A jolly boat (1727) is probably from Dan. jolle (17c.) or Du. jol (1682), both related to yawl (q.v.); or it may be from M.E. jolywat (1495) "a ship's small boat," of unknown origin.

jolt --- 1599, perhaps from M.E. jollen, chollen "to knock, to batter" (c.1430), or an alteration of obs. jot (v.) "to jostle" (1530). Fig. sense of "to startle, surprise" is from 1872. Perhaps related to earlier jolt head "a big, stupid head" (1533).

Jonah --- masc. proper name, biblical prophet, from L.L. Jonas, from Gk. Ionas, from Heb. Yonah, lit. "dove, pigeon."

Jonathan --- masc. proper name, biblical son of Saul, from Heb. Yonathan, short for Yehonathan, lit. "the Lord has given." As a pre-Uncle Sam emblem of the United States, sometimes personified as Brother Jonathan, it dates from 1816, said to have been applied by Washington to Gov. Jonathan Trumbull of Connecticut, to whom he sometimes turned for advice (cf. 2 Sam. i.26); hence "a New Englander," and eventually "an American." As a variety of red apple it dates from 1831, so called because it was introduced in the U.S.

Jones --- for the surname, see John. Phrase keep up with the Joneses (1913, Amer.Eng.) is from the title of a comic strip by Arthur R. Momand. The slang sense "intense desire, addiction" (1968) probably arose from earlier use of Jones as a synonym for "heroin," presumably from the proper name, but the connection, if any, is obscure.

jongleur --- wandering minstrel, 1779, from Norm.Fr. jongleur, variant of O.Fr. jogleor, from L. joculatorem "jester, joker" (see juggler).

jonquil --- 1629, species of narcissus, from Fr. jonquille, from Sp. junquillo, dim. of junco "rush, reed," from L. juncus "rush;" so called in reference to its leaves. The type of canary bird (1865) is so called for its pale yellow color, which is like that of the flower.

Jordan --- river in Palestine; the crossing of it is symbolic of death in high-flown language as a ref. to Num. xxxiii.51.

Joseph --- masc. proper name, biblical son of Jacob and Rachel, from L.L. Joseph, Josephus, from Gk. Ioseph, from Heb. Yoseph (also Yehoseph, cf. Ps. lxxxi.6) "adds, increases," causative of yasaph "he added."

josh --- 1845, Amer.Eng., probably from the familiar version of the proper name Joshua, but just which Joshua, or why, is long forgotten. Perhaps it was taken as a typical name of an old farmer. The word was in use earlier than the career of U.S. humorist "John Billings," pseudonym of Henry Wheeler Shaw (1818-85), who did not begin to write and lecture until 1860; but his popularity after 1869 may have influence that of the word.

Joshua --- masc. proper name, biblical successor of Moses, from Heb. Yehoshua, lit. "the Lord is salvation." Joshua tree (1867) is perhaps so called because its shape compared to pictures of Joshua brandishing a spear (Josh. viii.18).

joss --- Chinese figure of a deity, 1711, from Chinese Pidgin Eng., from Javanese dejos, from Port. deus "god," from L. deus (see Zeus). Colloquially, it came to mean "luck." Joss stick "Chinese incense" first recorded 1883.

jostle --- 1546, formed from jousten (see joust) + frequentative suffix -tle. The usual spelling 17c.-18c. was justle. An earlier meaning of the word was "to have sex with" (c.1400).

jot (n.) --- 1526, borrowing of L. jota, variant spelling of Gk. iota "the letter -i-, the smallest letter in the alphabet, hence the least part of anything. The verb "to make a short note of" is attested from 1721.

joule --- unit of electrical energy, 1882, coined in recognition of British physicist James P. Joule (1818-89).

jounce --- c.1440, of unknown origin, perhaps a blend of jump and bounce.

journal --- c.1355, "book of church services," from Anglo-Fr. jurnal "a day," from O.Fr. journal, originally "daily" (adj.), from L.L. diurnalis "daily" (see diurnal). Sense of "daily record of transactions" first recorded 1565; that of "personal diary" is 1610, from a sense found in French. Journalism is 1833 in Eng., likewise from Fr. (where it is attested from 1781).

journey --- c.1225, "a defined course of traveling," from O.Fr. journée "day's work or travel," from V.L. diurnum "day," noun use of neut. of L. diurnus "of one day" (see diurnal). As recently as Johnson (1755) the primary sense was still "the travel of a day." The verb is from c.1330. Journeyman (1424), "one who works by day," preserves the etymological sense. Its Amer.Eng. colloquial shortening jour (adj.) is attested from 1835.

joust --- c.1300, from O.Fr. joster "to joust, tilt," from V.L. juxtare "to approach, come together, meet," originally "be next to," from L. juxta "beside, near," related to jungere "join" (see jugular). The sport was popular with Anglo-Norman knights.

jovial --- 1590, from Fr., from It. joviale, lit. "pertaining to Jupiter," from L. Jovialis "of Jupiter," from Jovius (used as gen. of Juppiter) "Jupiter," Roman god of the sky. The meaning "good-humored, merry," is from astrological belief that those born under the sign of the planet Jupiter are of such dispositions. In classical L., the compound Juppiter replaced Old L. Jovis as the god's name. Jovian, in ref. to the planet Jupiter, is from 1794.

jowl --- 1577, from M.E. cholle "fold of flesh hanging from the jaw" (c.1320), perhaps related to O.E. ceole "throat" (cognate of O.Ir. gop, Ir. gob "beak, mouth"). A slightly different jowl, meaning "jaw," evolved from O.E. ceafl, from P.Gmc. *kaflaz (cf. Ger. kiefer, O.N. kjaptr "jaw," Flem. kavel, Du. kevel "gum"), and the two words influenced one another in form and sense. The change from ch- to j- has not been explained.

joy --- c.1225, "feeling of pleasure and delight," from O.Fr. joie, from L. gaudia, pl. of gaudium "joy," from gaudere "rejoice," from PIE base *gau- (cf. Gk. gaio "I rejoice," M.Ir. guaire "noble"). Joy-riding is Amer.Eng., 1908; joy stick is 1910, aviators' slang for the control lever of an airplane.

jubilant --- 1667, from L. jubilantem (nom. jubilans), prp. of jubilare "to call to someone," in Christian writers, "to shout for joy," related to jubilum "wild shout." First attested in Milton. Jubilation is much older in Eng. (1388), from O.Fr. jubilacion, from L. jubilationem (nom. jubilatio), from jubilare.

jubilee --- 1382, from O.Fr. jubilé, from L.L. jubilæus "the jubilee year," originally an adj., "of the jubilee," altered (by association with L. jubilare "to shout with joy") from Gk. iabelaios, from iobelos, from Heb. yobhel "jubilee," formerly "a trumpet, ram's horn," lit. "ram." The original notion was of a year of emancipation of slaves and restoration of lands, to be celebrated every 50th year (Levit. xxv.9); it was proclaimed by the sounding of a ram's horn on the Day of Atonement. The Catholic Church sense of "a period for remission of sin penalties in exchange for pilgrimages, alms, etc." was begun in 1300 by Boniface VIII. The general sense of "season of rejoicing" is first recorded 1592, though through early 20c. the word kept its specific association with 50th anniversaries. As a type of African-American folk song, it is attested from 1872.

Judah --- masc. proper name, biblical son of Jacob by Leah, also the name of a tribe of Israel, from Heb. Yehudah, from stem of y-d-h, lit. "praised."

Judaism --- 1494 (attested in Anglo-L. from 1251), from L.L. Judaismus (Tertullian), from Gk. Ioudaismos, from Ioudaios "Jew" (see Jew). The Anglo-L. reference is to a special tax levied on the Jews of England.

Judas --- biblical betrayer of Christ, Latin form of Gk. Ioudas, from Heb. Yehudha (see Judah). As a name for a malicious traitor, it is attested from 1489. Judas priest as an exclamation in place of "Jesus Christ" is from 1914. Judas tree (1668) supposedly was the type from which Judas hanged himself. The Judas goat (1941) leads sheep to the shackling pen.

Jude --- masc. proper name, Hellenized form of Judah (q.v.), maintained in the Bible for the names of two disciples of Christ, to distinguish them from Judas (q.v.).

judge (v.) --- 1225, "to form an opinion about," from Anglo-Fr. juger, from O.Fr. jugier "to judge," from L. judicare "to judge," from judicem (nom. judex) "to judge," a compound of jus "right, law" + root of dicere "to say" (see diction). The O.E. word was deman (see doom). Meaning "to try and pronounce sentence upon (someone) in a court" is from c.1290. The noun is from 1303. In Hebrew history, it refers to a war leader vested with temporary power (e.g. Book of Judges), from L. judex being used to translate Heb. shophet.

judgment --- c.1225, "a pronunciation of an opinion, criticism," from O.Fr. jugement, from jugier (see judge). Meaning "trial of moral beings by God" is from c.1340. Sense of "discernment" is first recorded 1535. Judgmental "inclined to make moral judgments" is from 1952.

judicatory --- c.1575, from L.L. judicatorius "judicial," from L. judicatus, pp. of judicare "to judge;" related to judicem (see judge).

judicial --- c.1380, from L. judicalis "of or belonging to a court of justice," from judicium "judgment, decision," from judicem (see judge).

judiciary (adj.) --- 1611, from L. judiciarius "of or belonging to a court of justice," from judicium "judgment," from judicem (see judge). The noun meaning "a body of judges, judges collectively" is from 1802.

judicious --- 1598, "having sound judgment," from M.Fr. judicieux, from L. judicium "judgment," from judicem (see judge). Meaning "careful, prudent" is from 1600.

Judith --- fem. proper name, from L., from Gk. Ioudith, from Heb. Yehudith, fem. of Yehudh "Jewish, Jewess," from Yehudha (see Judah). Judy is a pet form of it.

judo --- 1889, from Japanese judo, from ju "softness, gentleness" (from Chinese jou "soft, gentle") + do "way, art," from Chinese tao "way." "A refined form of ju-jitsu introduced in 1882 by Dr. Jigoro Kano, using principles of movement and balance, and practiced as a sport or form of physical exercise" [OED].

jug --- deep vessel for carrying liquids, 1538, jugge, variant of jubbe, of unknown origin, perhaps from jug "a low woman, a maidservant" (mid-16c.), an alteration of a common personal name, Joan or Judith. Use as a musical instrument is attested from 1946. Jughead "klutz" is from 1926; jughandle "tight curved road used for turns" is from 1961. Jugs for "woman's breasts" first recorded 1920 in Australian slang, short for milk jugs.

Jugendstil --- Ger. equivalent of art nouveau, from "Jugend," lit. "youth," name of a Ger. magazine begun in 1896 + stil "style."

juggernaut --- 1638, "huge wagon bearing an image of the god Krishna," especially that at the town of Puri, drawn annually in procession in which (apocryphally) devotees allowed themselves to be crushed under its wheels in sacrifice. Altered from Jaggernaut, a title of Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu), from Hindi Jagannath, lit. "lord of the world," from Skt. jagat "world" + natha-s "lord, master." The first European description of the festival is by Friar Odoric (c.1321). Fig. sense of "anything that demands blind devotion or merciless sacrifice" is from 1854.

juggler --- c.1100, iugulere "jester, buffoon," also "wizard, sorcerer," from O.E. geogelere "magician, conjurer," also from Anglo-Fr. jogelour, from O.Fr. jogleor (acc.), from L. joculatorem (nom. joculator) "joker," from joculari "to joke." Connecting notion between "magician" and "juggler" is dexterity.

jugular --- 1597, from Mod.L. jugularis, from L. jugulum "collarbone, throat, neck," dim. of jugum "yoke," related to iungere "to join," from PIE *yeug- "to join" (cf. Skt. yugam "yoke," yunjati "binds, harnesses," yogah "union;" Hittite yugan "yoke;" Gk. zygon "yoke," zeugnyanai "to join, unite;" O.C.S. igo, O.Welsh iou "yoke;" Lith. jungas "yoke," jungiu "fastened in a yoke;" O.E. geoc "yoke;" probably also L. iuxta "close by").

juice --- c.1290, from O.Fr. jus, from L. jus "broth, sauce, juice," from PIE base *yus- (cf. Skt. yus- "broth," O.C.S. jucha "broth, soup," Lith. juse "fish soup"). Meaning "liquor" is from 1828; that of "electricity" is first recorded 1896. Juicy "lively, interesting" first recorded in this sense 1838.

jujitsu --- 1875, from Japanese jujutsu, from ju "softness, gentleness" (from Chinese jou "soft, gentle") + jutsu "art, science," from Chinese shu, shut.

jujube --- c.1400, from M.L. jujuba (pl.), from L.L. zizyphum, from zizyphus, an Asiatic tree with datelike fruit, from Gk. zizyphon, from Pers. zayzafun. The meaning "soft candy with date-like flavor" first recorded 1835.

jukebox --- 1937, from jook joint (1935), Black English slang, from juke, joog "wicked, disorderly," in Gullah (the creolized English of the coastlands of S.C., Ga., and northern Fla.), from Wolof and Bambara dzug "unsavory."

julep --- c.1400, a syrupy drink in which medicine was given, from O.Fr. julep, from M.L. julapium, from Ar. julab, from Pers. gulab "rose water," from gul "rose" + ab "water." Sense of "alcoholic drink flavored with mint" is first recorded 1787.

Julia --- fem. proper name, from L. Julia, from fem. of Julius (q.v.).

Julian --- old style calendar, 1592, in reference to reforms by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C.E. (see Julius).

julienne --- kind of clear soup, 1841, from Fr., lit. "(soup made) in the manner of Julien," the proper name, from an otherwise unknown cook.

Juliet --- fem. proper name, from It. Giulietta, dim. of Giulia "Julia."

Julius --- masc. proper name, from L. Julius, name of a Roman gens, perhaps a contraction of *Jovilios "pertaining to or descended from Jove."

July --- c.1050, Iulius, from Anglo-Fr. julie, O.Fr. Jule, from L. Julius, renamed after his death and deification in honor of Gaius Julius Caesar, who was born in this month, which was formerly Quintilis "fifth," the fifth month of the Roman republican calendar, which began its year in March. Accented in first syllable in Eng. until 18c. Replaced O.E. liða se æfterra "later mildness," from liðe "mild."

jumble (v.) --- 1529, originally "to move confusedly," perhaps coined on model of stumble, tumble, etc. In 17c., it was yet another euphemism for "have sex with" (a sense first attested 1582). The noun meaning "a confused mixture" is from 1661.

jumbo (adj.) --- very large, 1897, Amer.Eng., in ref. to Jumbo, name of the London Zoo's huge elephant, sold Feb. 1882 to U.S. circus showman P.T. Barnum. The name is probably from slang jumbo "clumsy, unwieldy fellow" (1823), which itself is possibly from a word for "elephant" in a W.African language (cf. Kongo nzamba).

jump (v.) --- 1530, perhaps onomatopoeic (cf. bump); another theory derives it from words in Gallo-Romance dialects of southwestern France (cf. jumba "to rock, to balance, swing," yumpa "to rock"), picked up during English occupation in Hundred Years War. Superseded native leap, bound, and spring in most senses. Meaning "to attack" is from 1789; that of "to do the sex act with" is from 1638. The noun is attested from 1552. Meaning "jazz music with a strong beat" first recorded 1937, in Count Basie's "One O'Clock Jump." To jump to a conclusion is from 1704. Jumpy "nervous" is from 1879. Jump suit "one-piece coverall modeled on those worn by paratroopers and skydivers" is from 1948. Jumping-rope is from 1805. Jump in a lake "go away and stop being a pest" attested from 1912.

jumper --- 1853, apparently from 17c. jump "short coat," also "woman's under bodice," of uncertain origin, perhaps from Fr. jupe "skirt," which is ult. from Ar. jubbah "loose outer garment." Meaning "sleeveless dress worn over a blouse" first recorded Amer.Eng. 1939.

junco --- 1706, from Sp. junco "reed, bush," as in junco ave "reed sparrow," a bird of the Indies.

junction --- 1711, "act of joining," from L. junctionem (nom. junctio), noun of action from jungere "to join" (see jugular). Meaning "place where things meet" first attested 1841, originally in ref. to railroad tracks.

juncture --- 1382, "place where two things are joined," from L. junctura "a joining, uniting, a joint," from junctus, pp. of jungere "to join" (see jugular). Sense of "point in time" first recorded 1656, probably from astrology.

June --- 1110, from L. Junius (mensis), probably a variant of Junonius, "sacred to Juno" (see Juno). Replaced O.E. liðe se ærra "earlier mildness." Junebug, name for various beetles which appear in June, first attested 1829 in Southern U.S. dialect.

Jungian --- 1933, "of or pertaining to the psychoanalytic school of Dr. Carl Gustav Jung" (1875-1961).

jungle --- 1776, from Hindi jangal "desert, forest, wasteland, uncultivated ground," from Skt. jangala-s "arid, sparsely grown with trees," of unknown origin. Specific sense of "land overgrown by vegetation in a wild, tangled mass" is first recorded 1849; meaning "place notoriously lawless and violent" is first recorded 1906, from Upton Sinclair's novel (cf. asphalt jungle, 1949; blackboard jungle, 1954). Jungle gym was a trademark name, 1923, by Junglegym Inc., Chicago, U.S. Jungle bunny, derogatory for "black person," attested from 1966.

junior --- 1296, from L. junior, comp. of juvenis "young, young man" (see young). Used after a person's name to mean "the younger of two" from 1409 (in Anglo-L.). Abbreviation Jr. is attested from 1623. Meaning "of lesser standing, more recent" is from 1766. That of "meant for younger people, of smaller size" is from 1860. Junior college first attested 1899; junior high school is from 1909. Junior miss "young teenage girl" is from 1907.

juniper --- evergreen shrub, 1388, from L. juniperus (cf. Fr. genièvre, Sp. enebro, Port. zimbro, It. ginepro), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to junco "reed." Applied to various N.Amer. species from 1748. In the Bible, it renders Heb. rethem, the name of a white-flowered shrub unrelated to the European evergreen.

junk (1) --- worthless stuff, 1338, junke "old cable or rope" (nautical), of uncertain origin, perhaps from O.Fr. junc "rush," from L. juncus "rush, reed." Nautical use extended to "old refuse from boats and ships" (1842), then to "old or discarded articles of any kind" (1884). The verb meaning "to throw away as trash, to scrap" is from 1916. Junkie "drug addict" is attested from 1923, but junk for "narcotic" is said to be older. Junk food is from 1973; junk art is from 1966; junk mail first attested 1954.

junk (2) --- Chinese sailing ship, 1613, from Port. junco, from Malay jong "ship, large boat" (13c.), probably from Javanese djong.

junker --- young Ger. noble, 1554, from Ger., from O.H.G. juncherro, lit. "young lord," from junc "young" + herro "lord." Pejorative sense of "reactionary younger member of the Prussian aristocracy" (1865) dates from Bismarck's domestic policy.

junket --- 1382, "basket in which fish are caught or carried," from M.L. juncata "rush basket," perhaps from L. juncus "rush." Shifted meaning 1530 to "feast, banquet," probably via notion of a picnic basket, which led to extended sense of "pleasure trip" (1814), and then to "tour by government official at public expense for no discernable public benefit" (1886, Amer.Eng.). Cf. It. cognate giuncata "cream cheese" (originally made in a rush basket).

Juno --- Roman goddess of women and marriage, perhaps lit. "the young one" (perhaps as goddess of the new moon), from an Italic root akin to L. junior "younger," juvenis "young" (see young).

junta --- 1623, "Spanish legislative council," from Sp. junta "council, meeting, convention," from M.L. juncta "joint," from L. juncta, fem. pp. of jungere "to join" (see jugular). Meaning of "political or military group in power" first recorded 1641 as junto (from confusion with Sp. nouns ending in -o), originally with ref. to the Cabinet Council of Charles I. Modern spelling in this sense is from 1714; popularized 1808 in connection with council formed to resist Napoleon.