English

job

/dʒɒb/
A task.

    Etymology graph

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    Origin

    Etymology 1

    From the phrase jobbe of work (“piece of work”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from a variant of Middle English gobbe (“mass, lump”); or perhaps related to Middle English jobben (“to jab, thrust, peck”), or Middle English choppe (“piece, bargain”). More at gob, jab, chop.

    Etymology 2

    Imitative.

    From Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

    Lineage

    • inheritedMiddle Englishjobben
    • inheritedMiddle Englishgobbe “mass, lump”
      • derivedOld Frenchgobet
        • derivedTransalpine Gaulish*gobbo- “neb, muzzle”

    Words built on it: day job, job lot, night job

    Sources