Editor's Corner

I was surprised the other day to learn the etymology of the word jumbo, which as we know means “a very large specimen of its kind” (Merriam-Webster). I enjoy finding out how words come into our language, where they come from, and how long ago they showed up. The history of words intrigues me. But I had never thought about the word jumbo. And I had no idea that jumbo is an eponym.

An eponym is a person or thing that a word is named for. For example, according to Grammarly, “…Achilles [from Greek mythology] is the eponym of the Achilles tendon. Queen Victoria is the eponym of Lake Victoria and quite a few other things. Amerigo Vespucci is the eponym of America.”

It turns out that Jumbo, a famous 19th century elephant, is the eponym for the word jumbo. I overheard this fact during a TV show my spouse was watching, and I learned that Jumbo was purchased from the London Zoo by P. T. Barnum, and he became an integral part of the Barnum and Bailey circus in the second half of the 1800s.

The Online Etymology Dictionary confirms the information I overheard. The word jumbo appears to have received its definition in 1882 as a reference to Jumbo the famous elephant. Speaking of Jumbo, P. T. Barnum said, “I tell you conscientiously that no idea of the immensity of the animal can be formed. It is a fact that he is simply beyond comparison. The largest elephants I ever saw are mere dwarfs by the side of Jumbo."

I’ll never use the word again without thinking of Jumbo the elephant. And honestly, I’ll never think of the elephant without wishing he could have lived out his life in Abyssinia (now known as Ethiopia) where he was captured as a calf, rather than in a zoo or circus.

There are so many stories behind the words we use—some happy, some sad, some surprising, some confusing. Ain’t it grand? And ain’t Jumbo grand?

Donna Bradley Burcher |Technical Editor, Advisory | jack henry™

Pronouns she/her/hers

9660 Granite Ridge Drive, San Diego CA 92123

Symitar Documentation Services

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About Editor’s Corner

Editor’s Corner keeps your communication skills sharp by providing information on grammar, punctuation, JHA style, and all things English. As editors, we spend our days reading, researching, and revising other people’s writing. We love to spend a few extra minutes to share what we learn with you and keep it fun while we’re doing it.

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