English
jamb
Jamb comes from Old French jambe ‘leg’, from Ancient Greek καμπή ‘turning post, bend or flexure’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂em-‘to bend, curve’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂emp-reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*kampā́reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκαμπήkampḗ‘turning post, bend or flexure’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEgamba‘hock, shank, leg, thigh’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400jambe‘leg’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1842jamb
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂em-‘to bend, curve’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂emp-reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*kampā́reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκαμπήkampḗ‘turning post, bend or flexure’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEgamba‘hock, shank, leg, thigh’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400jambe‘leg’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1842jamb
Earliest quotation: 1842, S.R. Meyrick, A Critical Inquiry Into Antient Armour: “Wyntoun, in his Chronicle, mentions an encounter betwixt Lindsay…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em- ‘to bend, curve’
campaign, camera, champion, campus, chamber, chimney, kemp, cabaret, champaign, camaraderie, kam, skimp, cantonment, camber, campanile, campagna, chambray, 20 more
through Proto-Indo-European *kh₂emp-
through Ancient Greek καμπή ‘turning post, bend or flexure’
through Late Latin gamba ‘hock, shank, leg, thigh’
Today it means
noun Either of the vertical components that form the side of an opening in a wall, such as that of a door frame, window frame, or fireplace.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em- / jamb