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Where does the word "jolly" come from? It comes from Old Norse jol, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "jolly" come from? It comes from Old Norse jol, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Jolly’s story begins in Old Norse: jol meant “yule feast.” Possibly from Old Norse 'jól', the midwinter feast, or Latin 'gaudium'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as jolif. Described youthful gaiety. It reached English by 1300s as jolly. 'jolly' as 'very' in British slang dates from the 1500s. Today, jolly means happy and cheerful.
- Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval jol "yule feast", possibly from Old Norse 'jól', the midwinter feast, or Latin 'gaudium'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval jolif "festive, merry", described youthful gaiety.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s jolly "merry", 'jolly' as 'very' in British slang dates from the 1500s.