- match
- {{11}}match (n.1) "stick for striking fire," late 14c., macche, "wick of a candle or lamp," from O.Fr. meiche "wick of a candle," from V.L. *micca/*miccia (Cf. Catalan metxa, Sp. mecha, It. miccia), probably ultimately from L. myxa, from Gk. myxa "lamp wick," originally "mucus," based on notion of wick dangling from the spout of a lamp like snot from a nostril, from PIE root *meug- "slimy, slippery" (see MUCUS (Cf. mucus)). Modern spelling is from mid-15c.Meaning "piece of cord or splinter of wood soaked in sulfur, used for lighting fires, lamps, candles, etc." is from 1530. First used 1831 for the modern type of wooden friction match, and competed with LUCIFER (Cf. lucifer) for much of 19c. as the name for this invention.{{12}}match (n.2) "one of a pair, an equal," O.E. mæcca, "companion, mate, one of a pair, wife, husband, one suited to another, an equal," from gemæcca, from P.Gmc. *gamakon "fitting well together" (Cf. O.S. gimaco "fellow, equal," O.H.G. gimah "comfort, ease," M.H.G. gemach "comfortable, quiet," Ger. gemach "easy, leisurely"), from PIE root *mak-/*mag- "to fit" (see MAKE (Cf. make) (v.)). Middle English sense of "matching adversary, person able to contend with another" (c.1300) led to sporting meaning "contest," first attested 1540s.{{12}}match (v.) "to join one to another" (originally especially in marriage), late 14c., from MATCH (Cf. match) (n.1). Meaning "to place (one) in conflict with (another)" is from c.1400. That of "to pair with a view to fitness" is from 1520s; that of "to be equal to" is from 1590s. Related: Matched; matching.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.