How did cool come into the English language?

Answer 1

"Cool" literally means temperature that is almost cold or is chilly. The use of cool as slang started way back in the 1930s. If you watch movies from that era you will hear people use that word as a slang word. In those days it was a way of saying "That's great and I agree." Over time it evolved to the "overuse" that poor word is subject to now. Who knows who started using that word that way and how it spread. I figure the Hollywood use of Cool was the catalyst of it becoming a long term slang. It temporarily died out for a while when "swell" and "neat" replaced it but it did come back.

Answer 2

The word "cool" entered the English language in the early 19th century as a slang term in African American communities to describe something stylish or impressive. It later gained popularity in mainstream culture to mean fashionable or socially appealing, and eventually evolved to convey a sense of calmness or composure.