Derby Gaol or Derby Jail?
We know it means the same thing, with both words sharing the same meaning and pronunciation. But which one is right? That is the question!
Borrowed from the French, gaol is indeed originated from the French words la gaole or gayolle depending on what part of France you were in. The word gaol became widespread after the Norman conquest, when a lot of Norman French words to do with law and politics were introduced into English. But jail is also derived from the French.
By the 20th century, jail had replaced goal in the main for the English language, just places like the Derby Goal still using its original heritage name.
So, lock me up and throw away the key as I do not use the word Goal or Jail give me good old prison any day!
