Jukebox
/ˈdʒuːk.bɒks/noun
A coin-operated machine that plays selected recorded music.
Did you know?The word emerged from African American juke or jook culture, especially juke joints—informal venues known for music, dancing, and social rebellion.
Etymological Timeline
Possibly 18th–19th Century
Gullah/African American English
jook / juke
“A term associated with disorderly, wicked, or sexually provocative behavior; its deeper African source is uncertain.”
Late 19th–Early 20th Century
African American English
jook joint
“An informal establishment offering music, dancing, drinking, and entertainment.”
1930s
American English
juke box
“A coin-operated phonograph installed in commercial venues, especially juke joints.”
Mid-20th Century
American English
jukebox
“The increasingly standardized closed compound for a coin-operated music-playing machine.”
Modern English
English
jukebox
“A machine or digital system that plays selected recorded songs, often nostalgically referring to the classic coin-operated device.”
Explore more surprising origins