Etymology

ajar

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Today it means: Slightly turned or opened. Full definition →

Middle English ajar ← Old English ċierr, cyrr
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ajar · adverb, adjective, verb1

  1. Old English · derived fromċierr, cyrr“turn”
  2. Middle English · inherited fromajar
  3. English todayajar

From Middle English ajar, on char (“on [the] turn”), from on (“on”) + char (“turn, occasion”), from Old English ċierr, cyrr (“turn”), from ċierran (“to turn, convert”), equivalent to a- + char. Akin to Scots char, chare (“to turn, cause to turn”), Dutch akerre, kier (“ajar”), German kehren (“to turn”). See char.

ajar · adverb, verb2

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂en-
  2. Proto-Germanic*an
  3. Proto-West Germanic*ana
  4. Old Englishon
  5. Middle Englishan
  6. Middle Englisha-
  7. Englisha-
  8. Englishjar
  9. English todayajar

From a- (“in, at”) + jar (“discord, disagreement”).

Ajar · noun3

  1. Georgian · derived fromაჭარლები
  2. English todayAjar

From Georgian აჭარლები (ač̣arlebi).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.