Where does “latch” come from?

Latch comes from Middle English latche, derived from Middle English lacchen, which traces to Proto-Germanic lakjaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European leǵ- meaning to gather or collect.

latch (English): To close or lock as if with a latch; To catch;...

Definitions

  1. To close or lock as if with a latch; To catch;...

Ancestry of “latch”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishlatche—
2Middle Englishlacchento seize, catch, grasp; to seize, catch
3Old Englishlæċċanto grasp, take hold of, catch, seize”; to grasp,...
4Proto-GermaniclakjanąTo cause to wet; moisten
5Proto-Indo-Europeanleǵ-to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning to...

Words derived from “latch”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European leǵ- →