Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “catch” come from?

Catch comes from Middle English cacchen, from Anglo-Norman cachier, from Late Latin captiare, from Latin captio (a taking or seizing), derived from capio (to take).

catch (English): The act of seizing or capturing; The act of...

Definitions

  1. The act of seizing or capturing; The act of...

Ancestry of “catch”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcacchento catch
2Anglo-Normancachierto hide; Alternative form of chacier
3Vulgar Latincoacticarepresent active infinitive of *coacticō
4Latincoactō—
5Latincoactusforced, compelled, having been forced; urged,...
6Latincōgō—
7Latincōn-—
8Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
9Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
10Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
12Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
13Middle Englishkyt—
14Germankitt—
15Old High Germankuti—
16Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
17Proto-Germanickweduzresin
18Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak

Words derived from “catch”

  • catching
  • catches
  • catchment
  • catcher
  • catchy
  • catchphrase
  • catchall
  • flycatcher
  • catchword
  • bycatch
  • ratcatcher
  • cowcatcher
  • molecatcher
  • dogcatcher
  • catchpenny
  • catcheth
  • gnatcatcher
  • catchability
  • dreamcatcher
  • birdcatcher
  • catchable
  • oystercatcher
  • uncatchable
  • catchfly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷet- →