jacent. Lying back; recumbent. Latin “jacentem” < “jacere”=to lie.
Jack Ketch: A hangman; to “dance with Jack Ketch” means “to be hanged.” Eponym from Jack Ketch, a C17th executioner.
jackanapes: A ridiculous upstart. ?From nickname of Duke of Suffolk, “Jack Napes,” whose badge had a clog and chain, like performing apes.
jackaroo: Apprentice on an Australian sheep ranch. From “jack”=generic name for a man < Greek “jakobus” + “-roo” shortened from “kangeroo”
jacksy: Slang for buttocks or anus – “up the jacksy(ie).” First mentioned 1896 as “jacksy-pardy.” Maybe from “jack” (1891)=socket
jaded: Made dull, apathetic, tired, or cynical by experience. From Old Norse “jalda”=worn-out mare.
jaded: Worn out, tired, and weary of life. Unenthusiastic and insensitive. From Old Norse “jalda”=mare. Literally “like an old horse.”
jaguar: Large feline mammal of Central and South America, closely related to the leopard. From Guarani “yaguara”=carnivorous beast.
jalapeno: Small, fat, green chili pepper found in Mexico and southern US. Named after place of origin. From Aztec “Xalapan”=sand by water.
jambalaya: Louisiana creole dish of rice, chicken, shrimp, and andouille sausage. From Provencal “jambalaia”=mish-mash.
January: First month of the Gregorian and Julian calendars. From Latin “Januarius” < “Janus”=Italian two-faced deity + “-arius”=man.
jape: A joke, prank, gibe or trick. Thought to be combination of Old French “japer”=yelp like a dog + “gaber”=to mock, laugh, deride.
jealousy: Showing envy for other people’s belongings or achievements. Old French “gelos” < Latin “zelus” < Greek “zilos”=emulation, zeal.
jecorary: Relating to the liver; hepatic. French “jécoraire” < Latin “jecur”=liver + “-ary”=suffix meaning “related to.”
jejune: Uninteresting, insignificant, and dull; immature or childish. From Latin “jejunus”=barren, dry, hungry.
jentacular: Of, or pertaining, to breakfast. Latin “jentaculum”=breakfast < “jentare”=to break the fast.
jeopardy: Danger of loss, harm, or failure. Middle English “iuparti” < Old French “ieu parti”=”divided game” – one that could go either way
jest: A thing said or done for amusement; a joke. Old French “geste” < Latin “gesta”=actions or exploits < “gerere”=to do, act.
jetsam: Floating items thrown from a ship to prevent sinking. From Old French “getaison”=throw overboard < Latin “jectare=toss about.
jettatura: The evil eye; bad luck. Italian “iettatore”=person who brings bad luck < “gettare”=to throw, cast + “-or”=agent suffix.
jibe (or gibe): A sneering, mocking comment. From verb “gibe”=to speak mockingly, to taunt < possibly Old French “giber”=to shake.
jibe: To agree with, to be in harmony. Uncertain origin ?”chime” < Middle English “chimbe” < Latin “cymbal” < Greek “kimbi”=hollow cup.
jinx: Person or thing that brings bad luck. Latin “jynx” < Greek “iynx”=the wryneck, a bird used in witchcraft to create charms and spells.
jitterati: Coffee addicts or stressed personnel in the fast-paced, high-tech field. From “jitter” (unknown origin) + “literati”=well-read.
jive: To talk nonsense or untruths; a wild dance to jazz music. American slang, origin unknown.
jocose: Playful and humorous; in good spirits. Latin “jocosus”= full of jesting and joking < “jocus”=joke, jest, wordplay.
joke: Act or narrative intended to cause laughter. From Latin “jocus”=game or jest.
joker: Playing card showing a jester or fool. Latin “jocari”=to jest + “-er”=suffix used to indicate “someone who does something.”
Jones: Medieval variation of “John”=God is good < Old French “Jehan” < Latin “Joannes” < Greek “Ionnis” < Hebrew “yohanan”=Jaweh is gracious
jostle: Bump against someone roughly, typically in a crowd. Old French “juster” < Latin “juxtare”=to come together < “juxta”=beside, near.
Joulupukki: Finnish name for Santa. From Finnish “joulu”=Yule + “pukki”=goat. Literally Yule Goat.
journal: Daily record of event, personal or public. Old French “jurnal”=daily < Latin “diurnal”=daily < “dies”=day.
journey: A ‘spell’ or continued course of going or traveling. From Old French “journee”=day’s travel > Latin “diurnum”=day.
jovial: Good-humored and jolly. From Latin “Jove”=god Jove/Jupiter + “al”=related to. Astrological traits of those born under Jupiter.
joy: Feeling of great pleasure and happiness. Middle English “ioi” < Old French “joie” < Latin “gaudium”=joy < “gaudare”=to rejoice.
jubilant: Full of happiness, usually after a triumph. Latin “jubilant”=making cries of joy < “jubilare”=to call out
jubilee: Special anniversary, especially one celebrating fifty years. Latin “jubilaeus” < Hebrew “yobel”=ram’s horn (blown in celebration).
judge: Official with the power to decide on questions brought before a court. From Latin “judicum” < “jus”=law or right + “dicere”=to say.
Jugendstil: German equivalent of “art nouveau.” German C19th magazine “Jugend” = youth + “-stil”=style. Lit. “style of youth.”
juggernaut: Force crushing everything in its path. Wagon carrying image of Hindu god, Krishna. From Sanskrit “jagat”=world + “natha”=lord.
Julenissen: Norwegian name for Santa. From Old Norse “jol”=heathen feast + “nisse”=mythic small, elderly man protecting farms
jump: To spring into the air using leg muscles; to leap over something. Uncertain origin – possibly Low German “gumpen”=to jump.
jurat: Magistrate in the Channel Islands. Latin “juratus”=one who is sworn in < “jurare”=to swear (an oath).
jury: Group of people charged with deciding on the guilt or innocence of a person in a court case. From Latin “jurare”=to swear < “jus”=law
jussulent: Full of soup, broth or pottage. Latin “jussulentus”=having broth < “jus”=broth.
justice: A judge or magistrate; an administrator of law. Old French “justise” < Latin “justitia”=righteousness, equity.
