Etymology
Etymologically, "Jagannath" means "Master, Lord" (nātha) of the "World, Universe" (Jagata). The word has Sanskrit origin, being a tatsama in Oriya. It is a relational-case Tatpurusa compound word.
Also, the word "Jagannath" is evolved from "Jagati" (Oriya: ଜଗତି) (as an elevated platform or "Ratnabedi" on which the wooden form of Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra are worshiped on or the temple or its precincts inside the "Narendra Pokhari") and "Natha" (Oriya: ନାଥ) (means "Lord").
In the Oriya language, "Jagannath" refers to multiple names, as "Jagā" (ଜଗା) or "Jagabandhu" (ଜଗବନ୍ଧୁ) ("Friend of the Universe"). Both names derive from "Jagannath". Further, on the basis of the physical appearance of the deity, names like "Kālia" (କାଳିଆ) ("The Black-colored Lord"), "Darubrahma" (ଦାରୁବ୍ରହ୍ମ) ("The wooden Divinity"), "Dāruēdabatā" (ଦାରୁ ଦେବତା "The wooden god"), Cakāākhi (ଚକା ଆଖି) or "Cakānaẏan" (ଚକା ନୟନ "With round eyes"), "Cakāḍōḷā" (ଚକା ଡୋଳା "with round pupils") are also in vogue.
Some scholars have suggested that the word is a Sanskritization of a tribal word. They have presented arguments concerning the Jagannath's tribal origins. Savaras the early tribal inhabitants of Orissa were tree worshippers who called their God Jaganata from whom the word Jagannath may have been derived. To this day a class of non brahmin priests known as "Daitapati" claiming origin from original Savara devotee of Jagannath named Vishwabasu perform some of the most important rituals in the main temple at Puri and are considered the God's family
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