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Origin and history of youth

youth(n.)

Middle English, from Old English geoguð "the early stage of life, youthfulness; young people, junior warriors; young of cattle," related to geong "young," from Proto-Germanic *jugunthi- (from suffixed form of PIE root *yeu- "vital force, youthful vigor;" see young (adj.)) + Proto-Germanic abstract noun suffix *-itho (see -th (2)).

According to OED (1989), the Proto-Germanic form apparently was altered from *juwunthiz by influence of its contrast, *dugunthiz "ability" (source of Old English duguð). In Middle English, the medial -g- became a yogh, which then disappeared (compare douth "body of retainers," from Old English duguþ.)

As "a young person," especially "a young man," by c. 1200; in this sense it has a plural. Youth hostel is attested by 1929.

They said that age was truth, and that the young

Marred with wild hopes the peace of slavery

[Shelley]

Germanic cognates include Old Saxon juguth, Old Frisian jogethe, Middle Dutch joghet, Dutch jeugd, Old High German jugund, German Jugend, Gothic junda "youth."

Entries linking to youth

yogh(n.)

letter name for Middle English Ȝ, now lost from the alphabet, c. 1300; see Y. OED (1989) says the name probably is identical to yoke (Middle English yogh) and the character so called because yoke began with a sound given to yogh. It cites use of Latin jugum "yoke" to designate this letter. Middle English Compendium refers it probably to Old English eoh "yew tree" (see yew) and also a rune name.

young(adj.)

Middle English yong, from Old English geong "being in the early stage of life, not old; youthful, being in the early stages of adulthood; recent, new, fresh, vernal;" from Proto-Germanic *junga-, reconstructed to be from a suffixed form of PIE root *yeu- "vital force, youthful vigor."

Cognates include Sanskrit yuvan- "young; young man;" Avestan yuuanem, yunam "youth," yoista- "youngest;" Latin juvenis "young," iunior "younger, more young;" Lithuanian jaunas, Old Church Slavonic junu, Russian junyj "young," Old Irish oac, Welsh ieuanc "young." Germanic cognates include Old Saxon and Old Frisian jung, Old Norse ungr, Middle Dutch jonc, Dutch jong, Old High German and German jung, Gothic juggs.

As "characteristic of or appropriate to the young," late 12c. Generally, of things, concrete or abstract, "being in the first or early stage of existence," c. 1400. Related: Younger; youngest.

Young France, Young Italy, Poland, Ireland, etc., were loosely applied c. 1830-1850 to "republican agitators" in various monarchies. Young England was the name of a mid-19c. political faction led by young Tory aristocrats; Young America were used generally for "typical young person of the nation." For Young Turk, see Turk.