Janitor Is Named After the Roman God of Doorways
A janitor looks after a building. The word comes from Janus, the two-faced god of doors and beginnings, who also gave his name to January.
A janitor is the person who cleans and maintains a building. The name is divine: Latin *ianitor* meant doorkeeper, from *ianua*, a door, from Janus, the two-faced god who looked both in and out. The same god named the month that looks back at the old year and forward to the new.
- A building caretaker (American). *The janitor unlocked the hall.*
- A doorkeeper (historical). *The janitor of the college.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | janitor | The school janitor. |
| Plural | janitors | Night janitors. |
| British | caretaker | The caretaker has the keys. |
| Related | custodian | A building custodian. |
| Related | porter | The hall porter. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The janitor knows every corner of the building.American usage.
- Ask the caretaker to open the gym.British equivalent.
- Custodian is the preferred title in many districts.A more formal alternative.
Words from Roman gods
- January — from Janus, god of doorways
- March — from Mars, god of war
- Cereal — from Ceres, goddess of grain
- Volcano — from Vulcan, god of fire
- Jovial — from Jove, whose planet was thought to bring cheerfulness
From Latin *ianitor*, doorkeeper, from *ianua*, door. Scots English used janitor for a school doorkeeper long before the American cleaning sense developed.
Janitor or caretaker?
Janitor is American and Scottish; caretaker is the usual word in England and Wales. Custodian is a common formal alternative.
Is January really named after Janus?
Yes. He was the god of doors, gates and beginnings, and he was pictured with two faces looking in opposite directions.