latch

latch · verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*(s)leh₂g-
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*lakjaną
3. Old English · inherited fromlæċċan“to grasp, take hold of, catch, seize”
4. Middle English · inherited fromlacchen“to seize, catch, grasp”
5. English todaylatch

From Middle English lacchen (“to seize, catch, grasp”, verb), from Old English læċċan (“to grasp, take hold of, catch, seize”), from Proto-Germanic *lakjaną, *lakwijaną, *lakkijaną (“to seize”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leh₂g-, *(s)leh₂gʷ- (“to take, seize”). Cognate with Middle Dutch lakken (“to grasp, catch”).

latch · noun²

1. Old English · inherited fromlæċċan“to grasp, take hold of, catch, seize”
2. Middle English · inherited fromlatche
3. English todaylatch

From Middle English latche, lacche (“a latch; a trap”), from lacchen (“to seize, catch, grasp”), from Old English læċċan (“to grasp, take hold of, catch, seize”). See above for more.

latch · verb³

Compare French lécher (“to lick”).

Words from the same roots