Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “match” come from?

Match comes from Middle English macche, from Old French mesche, from Old English maca, from Latin mica meaning crumb or grain, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European mag- meaning to knead or mix.

match (English): A competitive sporting event such as a boxing...

Definitions

  1. A competitive sporting event such as a boxing...

Ancestry of “match”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishmacche—
2Old Englishġemæċċa—
3Old Englishġemacaa mate, an equal, companion, peer; companion,...
4Old Englishġe-—
5Proto-West Germanicga-used as an intensifier for verbs, indicating...
6Proto-Germanicga-Indicates association or togetherness; co-;...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt—
10Germankitt—
11Old High Germankuti—
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “match”

  • matching
  • matches
  • mismatch
  • matchless
  • matchmaking
  • matchmaker
  • matchbox
  • rematch
  • matchlock
  • matchstick
  • matchup
  • matchbook
  • matcher
  • unmatchable
  • matchwood
  • nonmatching
  • outmatch
  • nonmatch
  • matchable
  • matchlessly
  • matchboard
  • matchy
  • undermatching
  • prematch
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →