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jar·gon

(järgən)

1. The specialized language of a trade, profession, or similar group, especially when viewed as difficult to understand by outsiders: a crime novel that uses a lot of police jargon.

2. Nonsensical or incoherent language: "Your description will be considered as mere jargon by every man of sense" (Alexander Hamilton).

3. A hybrid language or dialect; a pidgin. Not in technical use.

intr.v. jar·goned, jar·gon·ing, jar·gons

To speak in or use jargon.

[Middle English jargoun, from Old French jargon, probably of imitative origin.]

jargon·ist, jar′gon·eer n.

jar′gon·istic adj.

jargon·y adj.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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