etymology - Why did Jitney become slang for nickel?


According to Merriam-Webster, jitney is slang for nickel:



Jitneys weren't worth a dime—just a nickel. In the early 1900s, jitney was slang for "nickel," but it wasn't long before the term was applied to a new mode of public transportation that only cost a nickel.



It also says the etymology is unknown. Are there any theories as to the origin of jitney?




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