Etymology Map
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Catch

3 stages from Vulgar Latin to English.

Today it means to seize and hold something moving

Where does the word "catch" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin captare, passing through Old North French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
captare
Vulgar Latin · ancient
"to try to seize"
a frequentative of 'capere', to take
2
Stage 2 of 3
cachier
Old North French · medieval
"to hunt"
the Norman form kept the hard 'k' sound
3
Stage 3 of 3
catch
English · 1200s
"to capture"
moved from chasing to actually capturing
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Read the full story

Catch’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: captare meant “to try to seize.” A frequentative of 'capere', to take. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old North French as cachier. The Norman form kept the hard 'k' sound. It reached English by 1200s as catch. Moved from chasing to actually capturing. Today, catch means to seize and hold something moving.