The etymology of the "jack" socket

[octavedoctor]

Can anyone help with this?

I'm pretty sure the word originated in the American telecoms industry but i can't find any definitive info on it. Wikipedia seems to think that it originated to distinguish the male plug from the female "Jill" socket..

I don't believe this for a minute especially as the article goes on to suggest that the term Jill for a jack socket is in widespread use outside the US...

Well I've never heard it!

I've theorised that maybe it's a corrupted acronym; perhaps it was originally JACC, something like Joint American Communications Committee.

Any ideas?

 

[Artie]

Re: The etymology of the "jack" socket

Can anyone help with this?

I'm pretty sure the word originated in the American telecoms industry but i can't find any definitive info on it. Wikipedia seems to think that it originated to distinguish the male plug from the female "Jill" socket..

That would definitely be wrong, since the "jack" is the female socket. Perhaps its short for "jacket", as in it jackets the plug.

I don't know.

Artie

 

[MikeS]

Re: The etymology of the "jack" socket

That would definitely be wrong, since the "jack" is the female socket. Perhaps its short for "jacket", as in it jackets the plug.

I don't know.

Artie

Maybe the "Jack" it was named after spent his time on the other side of the fence.

Jacket does make sense, though. Hmmm...