Jasm vs. Jism

[Douglas G. Wilson]

It has been suggested that "jasm" (the likely ancestor of "jazz") is
descended from "jism" (which had very similar application during the 19th
century). I guess "jism" is attested earlier than "jasm", but I think the
sparseness of the citations is such that it cannot be said with certainty
which was the earlier word. I don't find the usual etymological
speculations for these words very convincing.

Surely the two words look too similar for coincidence.

Is "jism" > "jasm" a natural development? Is /I/ > /&/ usual (aside from
/IN/ > /&N/, e.g., "It's a southern thang")? Would /&/ > /I/ be any more
usual? Any notions?

-- Doug Wilson


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