c.1225, from O.Fr.
gelos (12c., Fr.
jaloux), from L.L.
zelosus, from
zelus "zeal," from Gk.
zelos, sometimes "jealousy," but more often in a good sense ("emulation, rivalry, zeal"). See
zeal. Among the ways to express this are Swed.
svartsjuka, lit. "black-sick," from phrase
bara svarta strumpor "wear black stockings," also "be jealous." Dan.
skinsyg "jealous," lit. "skin-sick," is from
skind "hide, skin" said to be explained by Swed. dial. expression
fa skinn "receive a refusal in courtship."
"Most of the words for 'envy' ... had from the outset a hostile force, based on 'look at' (with malice
[jel-uh
s] 