1667, from L. jubilantem (nom. jubilans), prp. of jubilare "to call to someone," in Christian writers, "to shout for joy," related to jubilum "wild shout." First attested in Milton. Jubilation is much older in Eng. (1388), from O.Fr. jubilacion, from L. jubilationem (nom. jubilatio), from jubilare.