job

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The regular paid work that a person does to earn a living.

   She got a new job at the bank.

2. 2
   noun

   A particular task or piece of work that needs to be done.

   Painting the fence is a big job.

3. 3
   noun

   Something that is your duty or responsibility.

   It's your job to lock up at night.

4. 4
   noun

   A crime, especially a robbery.

   The gang pulled off a bank job.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Job first appears in the mid-16th-century phrase “a job of work,” but its origin is uncertain. It may be a specialized use of another job meaning “a cartload,” giving the idea of a load or piece of work, though that word’s origin is also unknown; another proposal connects it with Middle English gobbe, “a piece” or “a mouthful.”

From the phrase jobbe of work (“piece of work”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from a variant of Middle English gobbe (“mass, lump”); or perhaps related to Middle English jobben (“to jab, thrust, peck”), or Middle English choppe (“piece, bargain”). More at gob, jab, chop.

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
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