Etymology Dictionary

YOUNG,  not long born, new to life.  (E.)   M.E. ȝong, yong, yung.   In Chaucer, C. T. 79, we have the indef. form yong (misprinted yonge in Tyrwhitt); whilst in l. 7 we have the def. form yongë (dissyllabic).—A.S. geong, giung, iung (and even geng, ging), young; Grein, i. 499. + Du. jong. + Icel. ungr, jungr. + Dan. and Swed. ung. + G. jung; O.H.G. junc. + Goth. juggs (written for jungs); of which the alleged (but unauthorised) comparative form is juhiza.   β. All from a Teut. type YÛNGA, a contracted form of YUWANGA or YUWANHA, answering precisely to the cognate W. ieuanc, young, and to the Lat. form iuuencus, an extension (with Aryan suffix -ka) from iuuen-is, young.   γ. The base YUWAN, young, occurs in Lat. iuuenis, young, Skt. yuvan, young, Russ. iunuii, young, Lithuan. jaunas, young.   The lit. sense is perhaps 'protected,' from ✔YU, to guard; cf. Skt. yu, to keep back, Lat. iuuare, to aid, help; Fick, i. 732.   But Curtius (i. 285) derives it from ✔DIV, to play.   Der. young, sb.; young-ish; young-ling, Spenser, F. Q. i. 10. 57, M.E. ȝonglyng, Wyclif, Mark, xvi. 5, with double dimin. suffix -l-ing; young-ster, as to which see Spinster.   Also youn-ker, Spenser, F.Q. iv. 1. 11, borrowed from Du. jonker, also written jonkheer, compounded of jong, young, and heer, a lord, sir, gentleman; Hexham has O. Du. jonck heer or joncker, 'a young gentleman or a joncker' (sic).   Also you-th, q.v.