Where does “keypunch” come from?

keypunch (English) comes from English Punch, from English puncheon, from Middle English punchoun, from Old French ponchon, from Latin punctiō, from Latin -tiō, from Latin dissertātiō, from Latin dissertus — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.

keypunch (English): A mechanical device whose keys are pressed,...

Definitions

  1. A mechanical device whose keys are pressed,...

Ancestry of “keypunch”, step by step

keypunch traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Punch

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishPunchA glove puppet who is the main character used in a Punch and Judy show
2EnglishpuncheonA figured stamp, die, or punch, used by...
3Middle Englishpunchoun
4Old Frenchponchonpuncheon
5Latinpunctiōpuncture, pricking
6Latin-tiōtion, -ation, -ing
7Latindissertātiō(spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition
8Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
9Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
10Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
11Latincalceusshoe
12Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
13Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

via English key

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishkeyAn object designed to open and close a lock; An...
2EnglishcayA small, low island largely made of sand or coral
3SpanishCayokey island
4Taínocayosmall island

Words derived from “keypunch

Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ