match

match · noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*mag-“to knead, work”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*makô
3. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*makkjō
4. Old English · inherited frommæċċa
5. Middle English · inherited frommacche
6. English todaymatch

From Middle English macche, mecche, from Old English mæċċa, ġemæċċa (“companion, mate, wife, one suited to another”), from Proto-West Germanic *makkjō, *gamakkjō (“partner, equal”), from Proto-Germanic *makô, from Proto-Indo-European *mag- (“to knead, work”). Compare Danish mage (“mate”), Icelandic maki (“spouse”).

match · verb²

1. Middle English · inherited frommacchen“to marry; be paired with”
2. English todaymatch

From Middle English macchen (“to marry; be paired with”), from the noun (see above).

match · noun³

1. Ancient Greekμύξα (múxa)
2. Latinmyxa?
3. Vulgar Latinmicca
4. Old Frenchmesche
5. Middle Englishmecche
6. English todaymatch

From Middle English macche, mecche (“wick (of a candle)”), from Old French mesche, meische, from Vulgar Latin micca (compare Catalan metxa, Spanish mecha, Italian miccia), which in turn is probably from Latin myxa (“nozzle, curved part of a lamp”), from Ancient Greek μύξα (múxa, “lamp wick”).

Words from the same roots