Etymology

launch

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Today it means: To throw (a projectile such as a lance, dart or ball); to hurl; to propel with force. Full definition →

Middle English launchen ← Old French lanchier
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launch · verb, noun1

  1. Old French · derived fromlanchier
  2. Middle English · inherited fromlaunchen“to throw as a lance”
  3. English todaylaunch

From Middle English launchen (“to throw as a lance”), Old French lanchier, another form (Old Northern French/Norman variant, compare Jèrriais lanchi) of lancier, French lancer, from lance.

launch · noun2

  1. Malay · derived fromlancar“quick, agile”
  2. Portuguese · derived fromlancha“barge, launch”
  3. English todaylaunch

From Portuguese lancha (“barge, launch”), apparently from Malay lancar (“quick, agile”). Spelling influenced by the verb above.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.