Étymologie et Histoire de Union Jack

late 14c., jakke "a mechanical device," from the masc. name Jack (q.v.). The proper name was used in Middle English for "any common fellow" (see jack (n.1)) and thereafter extended, alone or in compound, to various mechanical contrivances or appliances which do the work of common servants and assistants or are liable to rough use (1570s, in reference to a machine for turning the spit in roasting meat); for this use compare billy, jimmy, Jenny. Jack also was used generically in reference to male animals (1620s, see jackass, jackdaw, etc.).

Specifically as a contrivance for raising great weights by force exerted from below, it is attested by 1703. As the name of a device for pulling off boots, from 1670s. The slang meaning "money" is recorded by 1890 (in earlier slang it meant "a small coin"). In telephony and telegraphy, "a terminal by means of which instruments can be plugged into a circuit," it is attested by 1891, in reference to the spring-jack switch in it.

For the playing card, see jack (n.3). The jack in Union Jack is a nautical term for "small flag at the bow of a ship" (1630s) and perhaps is from the word's secondary sense of "smaller than normal size."

début du 15e siècle, unioun, "action de joindre une chose à une autre ou deux ou plusieurs choses en une," aussi "accord, entente," aussi "état de mariage," de l'anglo-français unioun, de l'ancien français union (12e siècle), du latin tardif unionem (nominatif unio) "unicité, unité, unification," aussi en latin classique "une seule perle ou un oignon," de unus "un" (de la racine indo-européenne *oi-no- "un, unique").

Le sens de "action de unir en un corps politique" est attesté dès les années 1540. La signification "groupe ou confédération de personnes ou d'États" date des années 1650. En abrégé pour trade union, il est enregistré en 1833. Le sens politique de "États-Unis d'Amérique, l'union des États" est attesté dès 1775; notamment pendant la guerre civile en référence au reste des États-Unis après la sécession du Sud.