Jolt May Have Been Made From Two Words at Once
A jolt is a sudden jerk. Its origin is unclear and may be a blend of two older words.
A jolt is an abrupt rough movement, or a sudden shock. Its origin is uncertain and one suggestion is that it blends *jot*, meaning to bump, with *joll*, meaning to knock — a portmanteau formed before anyone had a name for the process. Blends are usually modern and deliberate, so an accidental one from the 1500s is unusual. The figurative sense of a sudden shock to the mind is much later, from the 1800s.
- A sudden jerk. *A violent jolt.*
- To shake. *The bus jolted.*
- A shock. *A jolt of fear.*
- Jolting — rough. *A jolting ride.*
- From the 1500s. *Origin uncertain.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | jolt | A jolt. |
| Verb | jolt | Jolting. |
| Past | jolted | Jolted. |
| Adjective | jolting | Jolting. |
| Related | jerk | A jerk. |
- The cart jolted over stones.Movement.
- The news gave him a jolt.Shock.
- It may blend two words.Etymology.
Blended words in English
- Jolt — possibly jot and joll, from the 1500s
- Smog — smoke and fog, 1905
- Brunch — breakfast and lunch, 1890s
- Motel — motor and hotel, 1925
- Lewis Carroll coined the term portmanteau word
Recorded from the 1500s, of uncertain origin, possibly a blend of *jot*, to bump, and *joll*, to knock.
Where does jolt come from?
The origin is uncertain. One suggestion is that it blends jot, meaning to bump, with joll, meaning to knock.
What is a portmanteau word?
A word formed by blending two others, such as smog or brunch. Lewis Carroll coined the term.