Mike Clinton
Introduction: Defining "Jungle"
The word "jungle" carries a sense of mystery and untamed wilderness, conjuring up images of dense undergrowth, dangerous wildlife, and unexplored territories. But what exactly does the term mean, and where did it come from? At its most basic level, a jungle is a tropical forest characterized by an abundance of vegetation and a high level of biodiversity. The word can also refer more broadly to any dense, tangled, or confusing mass, such as a social or political situation.
The First Known Use of "Jungle"
The first known use of the word "jungle" in English dates back to the early 18th century. It appears in a travelogue by Captain Bartholomew Sharp, who described his adventures along the coast of the Isthmus of Panama. In his account, he writes of "wild beasts and jungles," using the term to refer to the dense vegetation and wildlife that posed a threat to his expedition. It’s possible that Sharp borrowed the word from Spanish, since the term "jungla" was already in use in that language to describe tropical forests. However, the exact origin of the word remains somewhat elusive.