jordan

jordan · noun¹

1. Latin · derived fromjurdanus
2. Middle English · inherited fromjordan
3. English todayjordan

From Middle English jordan, from Latin jurdanus, unattested outside of England and of uncertain etymology. Usually derived from a clipped form of Jordan bottle, supposedly a bottle of curative water brought back from the River Jordan by Crusaders and pilgrims to the Holy Land, but this seems unsupported in its actual attestations. Its use for chamber pots may derive from the alchemical device having been used to hold urine.

Jordan · proper noun²

1. Biblical Hebrew · derived fromיַרְדֵּן“Jordan (river)”
2. Ancient Greek · derived fromἸορδάνης
3. Latin · derived fromIordanēs
4. English todayJordan

From Latin Iordanēs, from Ancient Greek Ἰορδάνης (Iordánēs), from Biblical Hebrew יַרְדֵּן (yardén, “Jordan (river)”). Doublet of Yarden. The area in Hong Kong is named after Jordan station, which is named after Jordan Road, which in turn is named after Sir John Jordan.

Words from the same roots