punctual

Where does the word "punctual" come from? It comes from Latin punctus, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Punctual’s story begins in Latin: punctus meant “a point.” A point, from pungere (to prick, to puncture). It reached English by 1400s as punctual. Narrowed from relating to a precise point to arriving exactly on time. Today, punctual means arriving, acting, or doing something at the exact expected time.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient punctus "a point", a point, from pungere (to prick, to puncture).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s punctual "arriving or acting exactly at the expected time", narrowed from relating to a precise point to arriving exactly on time.