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advoca · Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 422 Location: Beijing

Why is a juke box so called?

What is a juke?

CanadianMeg · Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 3:14 pm Post subject:

I'm not all too sure why it is called a juke-box. But a juke-box is a phonograph that plays music (normally coin-operated.) I hope that helps!
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LucentShade · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 542 Location: Nebraska, USA

According to my dictionary, this particular meaning of "juke" comes from some West African words meaning "wicked," "disorderly," and finally, "brothel" (house of prostitution). CanadianMeg's definition is correct on the practical meaning. Maybe these juke boxes were originally used at brothels and other unsavory places?

(Note: there is another unrelated meaning of "juke": it also means to fool or deceive. It's mostly used in sports to describe when one player pretends to go one direction to fool a defender, but then quickly changes his course to go another way.)

advoca · Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 422 Location: Beijing

Thanks to those who tried to help me. However, I have solved the problem with the help of one of my students.

I am told that a Juke (more commonly a Juke Joint) is slang for a roadhouse or a bar providing food, drinks, and music for dancing. The machine for playing records for listening or dancing was, therefore, a Juke-box.