Joke
/dʒoʊk/noun
A thing said or done for amusement; a humorous remark or story.
Did you know?The word entered English in the 17th century from Latin roots tied to jesting and playful banter, and its older relatives spread through European languages as words for joking, teasing, and witty speech.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*yeh₂-
“to say, speak”
Latin
Latin
jocus
“jest, joke, sport, banter”
Late Latin
Latin
jocāri
“to joke, to jest”
Old French
Old French
joc
“joke, sport, amusement”
Middle English
English
joken
“to jest, to make sport”
Modern English
English
joke
“a humorous remark or action”
Explore more surprising origins