Jib
mid 17th century: of unknown origin.
wiktionary
Attested since the 1660s, of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to jib(“shift or swing around”) (see below).
Attested since the 1680s (also spelled jibe and gybe), perhaps from Dutch gijben (a variant of gijpen(“to turn sails suddenly”), whence certainly the form jibe) or else from Danish gibbe(“jib, jibe”), related to Swedish gippa(“jib, jibe, jerk, make jump”). Compare also Middle High German gempeln(“to spring”), Swedish guppa(“to move up and down”), Swedish gumpa(“to jump, spring”). See jump.
Attested since the 1660s, of uncertain origin, perhaps a shortening of gibbet.
Of uncertain origin, perhaps related to jib(“shift or swing around”) (see above).
jib ( uncountable)
From Middle English gibbe(“a swelling or protrusion in the body”), from Old French gibbe and/or Medieval Latin gibba(“hump”).
jib (plural jibs)
etymonline
jib (n.)
"large, triangular foresail of a ship," 1660s, gibb, of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to gibbet on the notion of a sail "hanging" from a masthead [Barnhart, OED]; and compare gib "projecting arm of a crane." Or perhaps from the nautical verb jib, jibe "shift a sail or boom to the other side" (1690s), from Dutch gijben, gijpen "turn suddenly" (of sails), which is apparently related to gijk "boom or spar of a sailing ship."
An observant sailor watching a strange vessel approach at sea judges her character by the condition of the jibs; hence cut of (one's) jib "personal appearance" (1821). Related: Jib-boom (1748). The jib in jib-door "door flush with a wall" (1792) is of uncertain origin and probably is not the same word.
