jail
JAYL · noun
LatinAnglo-NormanMiddle EnglishEnglish
Origin
Jail comes from Middle English gayole, borrowed from Anglo-Norman jaiole, which traces to Late Latin caveola — literally a 'little cage,' built from Latin cavea ("cage") plus the diminutive ending -ola.
Journey
The word entered English through Anglo-Norman French and eventually pushed out native English words for prison, like Middle English quartern (from Old English cweartern) and, partially, lok and carcern.
Related words
Jail is a doublet of caveola and is related to cage, since both descend from Latin cavea; it's also connected to cajole.
More words
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