English
jingle
Jingle comes from Middle English gyngle ‘to jingle’.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gyngle‘to jingle’
- Englishearliest quotation 1632jingle
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gyngle‘to jingle’
- Englishearliest quotation 1632jingle
Earliest quotation: 1632, Iames Shirley [i.e., James Shirley]: “I / Perceive 'tis an advantage for a man…”
The story
The verb, which is older than the noun, is from Middle English gyngle. Onomatopoeic; compare jangle.
Every English word from Middle English gyngle
Today it means
noun The sound of metal or glass clattering against itself.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English gyngle / jingle