watch

Where does the word "watch" come from? It comes from Old English wæccan, passing through Middle English before entering English (1580s).

Watch’s story begins in Old English: wæccan meant “to stay awake.” To stay awake or keep vigil; 'wake' comes from the same root. By 1200s-1400s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as wacche. A night watchman's shift; sailors still divide the day into 'watches'. It reached English by 1580s as watch. The portable timepiece, perhaps named for the watchman's alarm; pocket watches spread from Nuremberg soon after 1500. Today, watch means to look at attentively; a small timepiece worn or carried.

1. Stage 1 · Old English · 700s-1000s wæccan "to stay awake", to stay awake or keep vigil; 'wake' comes from the same root.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1200s-1400s wacche "vigil, guard", a night watchman's shift; sailors still divide the day into 'watches'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1580s watch "timepiece; to observe", the portable timepiece, perhaps named for the watchman's alarm; pocket watches spread from Nuremberg soon after 1500.