nightjar (English)

Where does "nightjar" come from?

The name 'nightjar' is an English compound that combines 'night', a word with deep Proto-Indo-European roots, with 'jar.' In this context, 'jar' refers not to a container, but specifically to the bird's grating, discordant nocturnal call. By pairing these terms, the name perfectly captures the essence of this elusive bird, known for appearing after dark to let out its harsh, distinctive song.

Full etymology tree

nightjar (English), 'Any of various medium-sized nocturnal birds, of the family Caprimulgidae from the order Caprimulgiformes, that feed predominantly on moths and other large flying insects.'
- compound night (English), 'The time when the Sun is below the horizon when the sky is dark.'
  - inherited night (Middle English), 'alternative form of nyght'
    - inherited niht (Old English), 'night'
      - inherited *nahti (Proto-West Germanic)
        inherited *nahts (Proto-Germanic), 'night'
        inherited *nókʷts (Proto-Indo-European), 'night (or possibly 'evening')'
- compound jar (English), 'An earthenware container, either with two or no handles, for holding oil, water, wine, etc., or used for burial.'
  - inherited jarre (Middle English)
    - borrowed jare (Old French)
      - borrowed جَرَّة (jarra) (Arabic), 'jar, amphora, olla'

Direct ancestors

Updated June 2026

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris