job

job · noun, verb¹

1. Middle English · derived fromchoppe“piece, bargain”
2. Middle English · derived fromjobben“to jab, thrust, peck”
3. Middle English · inherited fromgobbe“mass, lump”
4. English todayjob

From the phrase jobbe of work (“piece of work”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from a variant of Middle English gobbe (“mass, lump”); or perhaps related to Middle English jobben (“to jab, thrust, peck”), or Middle English choppe (“piece, bargain”). More at gob, jab, chop.

job · verb, noun²

Imitative.

Job · proper noun, noun³

1. Biblical Hebrew · derived fromאִיּוֹב
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromἸώβ
3. Latin · derived fromIob
4. English todayJob

From Latin Iob, from Ancient Greek Ἰώβ (Iṓb), from Biblical Hebrew אִיּוֹב (ʾiyyōḇ), related to אָיַב (ʾāyaḇ, “to be an enemy”) and אוֹיֵב (ʾōyēḇ, “enemy”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. To peck (of a bird); (more generally) to poke or prod (at, into).
• from 16th c. To pierce or poke (someone or something), typically with a sharp or pointed object; to stab.
• from 19th c. To hit (someone) with a quick, sharp punch; to jab.
• 16th–20th c. A sudden thrust or stab; a jab or punch.