Etymograph

English

jaywalk

Back-formation from jaywalker.

Formed from jay ‘a stupid person’ + walk

Old French jai ‘jay’

Middle English jay ‘jay’

English jay

Proto-Indo-European *welH- ‘to roll’

Proto-Germanic *walkaną ‘to roll, toss, turn; to walk’

Proto-West Germanic *walkan

Old English wealcan ‘to move around, roll’

Middle English walken ‘to roll, toss; to walk’

English walk

Today it means

verb To behave as a jaywalker; to violate pedestrian traffic regulations by crossing a street away from a designated crossing or to walk in the part of the street intended for vehicles rather than on the sidewalk.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / jaywalk