jam English · revision 7104

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|attested=1706}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈd͡ʒæm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of unknown origin,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) perhaps imitative,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) or symbolic.^(Hoad 1986) Etymonline suggests a variant of Middle English cham, to bite on, gnash (see [[champ]]).^(Etymonline) The fruit preserve is probably a special use of the verb, from crushing the fruit.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To stick or become wedged: 1706.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) To press tightly is from 1719, in Defoe's ''Robinson Crusoe''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The preserve is from 1730–36, in Bailey's dictionary,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and figuratively something good or sweet from 1871.^(OED 1989) The noun, a tight squeeze, is from 1805–06,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) the blocking of a machine's moving parts from 1890,^(OED 1989) and a predicament or tight spot from 1914.^(Etymonline) Radio interference is from 1914.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In jazz, a free improvised session is from 1929, and the verb from 1935, from African-American slang jam-up, music performance;^(Etymonline) ''jam session'' is from 1933.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) ''Jam-packed'' is from 1901.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1706 – to become wedged.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1719 – to press tightly.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1736 – fruit preserve.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1890 – a machine jam.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1914 – a predicament; radio jamming.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1929 – a jazz session.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To squeeze or pack tightly into a space.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To become stuck so as to be unable to move.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To block a place by crowding into it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To interfere with radio signals so they cannot be received.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' To improvise music with other musicians.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A sweet spread made from fruit boiled with [[sugar]]; [[preserve]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A crowded mass that blocks movement: ''a traffic jam''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' A difficult situation.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # An informal session of improvised music.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[jammable]]

+ * [[jammer]]

+ * [[jammy]]

+ * [[jamlike]]

+ * [[jam-up]]

+ * [[logjam]]

+ * [[unjam]]

+ * [[jam session]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[jam-packed]]

+ * [[champ]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}