When I used the word “jumper” to refer to a piece of clothing, I realized I didn’t know the origin of the word. Jen Marie explains the word jumper may have come from the “French juppe, a petticoat, a word derived from the Arabic word jubba, meaning a loose outer garment.”
This Wikipedia entry explains that the jumper, jumper dress, pinafore, and pinny (British English) are all the same item of clothing – a sleeveless, collarless dress that’s worn with a blouse or shirt. Jumper in British English refers to what we Americans call a sweater.
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Happy as a Clam
Erica Hersh says the term most likely came from “happy as a clam at high tide.” Clams couldn’t be dug up at high tide, therefore, they must be “happy.” This website gives examples of the phrase being used in 1840 and 1841.
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