jungle
UK[ˈdʒʌŋɡl]US[ˈdʒʌŋɡl]
n
A thick, tropical forest with many large plants growing very close together.
n
A situation or place that is very complicated, difficult to compete in, or full of uncontrolled activity.
Etymology
The word 'jungle' entered the English language in the 18th century from the Indian subcontinent, borrowed from Hindi and Marathi 'jangal'. Its ultimate source is the Sanskrit 'jangala', which originally described dry, uncultivated land, quite distinct from the dense, wet forests the word now evokes. British colonial usage in India shifted the meaning to refer specifically to wild, tangled thickets and forests. This semantic evolution from 'wasteland' to 'impenetrable forest' reflects the European perception of such landscapes as untamed and formidable, a meaning that later extended metaphorically to describe any complex, competitive, or chaotic environment.
Analysis
The word 'jungle' is a simplex loanword. It originates from the Hindi and Marathi word 'jangal', meaning a desert, forest, wasteland, or uncultivated ground. This, in turn, derives from the Sanskrit 'jangala', which referred to arid, sparsely grown terrain. In English, it functions as a noun.
Examples
The explorers hacked their way through the dense jungle.
The city can be a concrete jungle for newcomers.
Navigating the legal jungle of copyright law requires expert advice.