jib

The origin of 'jib' is obscure, but it first appeared in English in the mid-17th century as a nautical term for a type of sail. It is possibly related to the obsolete verb 'gibe', meaning to shift a sail suddenly. The sense of a crane's arm developed from its resemblance to the sail. The verbal meaning, "to refuse to proceed," emerged in the early 19th century, likely drawing an analogy to a horse stopping stubbornly, much like a sail shifting unpredictably against the wind. This journey from a specific mechanical part to a metaphor for reluctance illustrates a common path of semantic extension.

The word 'jib' is a simplex word of uncertain origin, likely entering English as a nautical term. It does not contain separable morphemes in its modern English form.