jump start etymology

Etymology

Jump (verb) - Middle English: from Old French jomper, from Vulgar Latin jumbare (to jump), probably a reduplication of Latin iombare (to go), from the root i-io-, extended by -mp-.

Start (verb) - Middle English: from Old English styrtan (to leap, jump), of Germanic origin; related to German starten (to start), Dutch starten (to start), and to ster-, stor-, the element in stir.

Meaning

To jump start something is to start or restart it suddenly or forcibly, often with the help of external assistance.

Origin

The term "jump start" originally referred to the process of starting a car engine by connecting it to another running engine with jumper cables. The jumper cables allow the dead battery in the first car to draw power from the running battery in the second car, enabling it to start.

Over time, the term "jump start" has come to be used figuratively to refer to any sudden or forceful start or restart. It is often used in contexts where something has become stuck or stalled, and external assistance is needed to get it going again.

jump start relate terms

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