john

john · noun¹

From the male given name John (q.v.), whose ubiquity led to extensive use of the name in generic contexts. Its use for toilets derives from John and Cousin John, which both probably relate to jacques and jakes, used in equivalent senses by the British and Irish.

John · proper noun, noun²

1. Biblical Hebrew · derived fromיוֹחָנָן
2. Koine Greek · derived fromἸωάννης
3. Latin · derived fromIōannēs
4. Late Latin · derived fromIōhannēs
5. Old English · derived fromIohannes
6. Anglo-Norman · derived fromJehan
7. Middle English · inherited fromJohn
8. English todayJohn

From Middle English John, Johan, Johannes, from Anglo-Norman Jehan, Johan, and also Old English Iohannes, both from Late Latin Iōhannēs, variant of Latin Iōannēs, from Koine Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Biblical Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (Yôḥānān), perhaps contracted from a former יְהוֹחָנָן (Yəhōḥānān, “God is gracious”). Doublet of Jack, Jon, Johan, Johann, Johannes, Jean, Sean, Shane, Shaun, Ian, Ivan, Evan, Juan, Giovanni, and Yahya.

Words from the same roots