latchn.1
/latʃ/, U.S. /lætʃ/ 1. A loop or noose; a gin, snare; a ‘tangle’; a latchet, thong. a latch of links: (dialect) a string of sausages. Obsolete exc. dialect and technical.
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the world > food and drink > hunting > equipment > trap or snare > [noun]
grinc825
trapa1000
snarea1100
swikea1100
granea1250
springec1275
gina1300
gnarea1325
stringc1325
trebuchet1362
latch?a1366
leashc1374
snarlc1380
foot gina1382
foot-grina1382
traina1393
sinewa1400
snatcha1400
foot trapa1425
haucepyc1425
slingc1425
engine1481
swar1488
frame1509
brakea1529
fang1535
fall trap1570
spring1578
box-trapa1589
spring trapa1589
sprint1599
noosec1600
springle1602
springe1607
toil1607
plage1608
deadfall1631
puppy snatch1650
snickle1681
steel trap1735
figure (of) four1743
gun-trap1749
stamp1788
stell1801
springer1813
sprent1822
livetrap1823
snaphance1831
catch pole1838
twitch-up1841
basket-trap1866
pole trap1879
steel fall1895
tread-trap1952
conibear trap1957
conibear1958
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > protective studs or plates > fastenings > lace, thong, or strap
latchetc1440
langueta1500
shoe-latchet1526
shoe-tie1600
shoestring1616
latch1653
tab1674
languid1688
shoe whang1691
shoe-latch1884
?a1366 Romaunt Rose 1624 Love wil noon other bridde cacche Though he sette either net or lacche.
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia iv. 129 She [the ship] was fast in the latch of our cable, which in haste of weighing our anchor hung aloofe.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xxii. 79 All Scepters do serve but as latches to his most rich sandals.
a1855 W. T. Spurdens Forby's Vocab. E. Anglia (1858) III. 28 Latch,..as a noun it means a thong of leather.
1895 W. Rye Gloss. Words E. Anglia Latch of Links, a string of sausages.
2. A fastening for a door or gate, so contrived as to admit of its being opened from the outside. It now usually consists of a small bar which falls or slides into a catch, and is lifted or drawn by means of a thumb-lever, string, etc. passed through the door. Now also, a small kind of spring-lock for a front-door (more fully night-latch) which is opened from the outside by means of a key. on the latch: (said of a door) fastened with a latch only; so off the latch, unlatched, ajar. Also with qualifying word, as dead-latch, night-latch, spring-latch.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > lock > latch-lock > latch
latch1331
clicket1342
snecket1611
click1714
snick1775
snib1825
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > close or shut [phrase] > of a door: closed with a latch
on the latch1765
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [phrase] > partly open (of doors, etc.)
on (upon) the jar1674
off the latch1842
off the sneck1897
1331 [implied in: Act 5 Edw. III c. 14 Roberdesmen, Wastours & Draghlacche. (at draw-latch n. 2)].
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Song of Sol. v. 6 The lach of my dore I openede to my lemman.
a1400 Pistill of Susan 229 To þe ȝate ȝapely they ȝedyn..And he left up þe lacche.
c1420 Chron. Vilod. st. 732 And breke up bothe lok and lache.
c1440 Partonope 5440 Vp she nome The lacch of the dore and in she come.
1520 Accts. St. John's Hosp., Canterbury (Canterbury Cathedral Archives: CCA-U13/4) Payd for a lache and a cache and a stapylle ijd.
1575 W. Stevenson Gammer Gurtons Nedle iii. iii. sig. Ciiiv Take heede Cocke, pull in the latche.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Winter's Tale (1623) iv. iv. 438 If euer henceforth, thou These rurall Latches, to his entrance open. View more context for this quotation
1624–5 in H. J. F. Swayne Churchwardens' Accts. Sarum (1896) 180 A cache and a Lache for the Church gate.
1637 T. Heywood Royall King iii. sig. F3 Pray draw the latch, sir.
1765 J. Wesley Jrnl. 25 May The door [is] only on the latch.
1833 H. Martineau Briery Creek iii. 54 For want of a latch, the gate..was tied.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Dora in Poems (new ed.) II. 39 The door was off the latch; they peep'd, and saw The boy set up betwixt his grandsire's knees.
1851 H. W. Longfellow Golden Legend ii. 102 To thee it [sc. the thought of death] is not So much even as the lifting of a latch.
1885 W. Black White Heather ii The outer door is on the latch, thieves being unheard of in this remote neighbourhood.
3. technical.
a. †(a) The click of the ratchet-wheel of a loom (obsolete). †(b) See quot. 1704 (obsolete). (c) Nautical = lasket n. (d) ‘A cord clamp which holds the in-board end of a mackerel-line’ (E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. 1875). (e) The part of a knitting-machine needle which closes the hook to allow the loop to pass over its head (= fly n.2 5f).
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > masts, rigging, or sails > rigging > [noun] > running rigging > loop for attaching bonnet to sail
latchet1497
latch1688
lasket1704
latching1794
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 107/2 The Latch [of a Loome] is an Iron or peece of Wood that falls into the Catch of the Wheel aforesaid, which holds the Yarn Beam from turning.
1704 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum I Latches are those Parts of a Clock which [wind] up, and unlock the Work.
1710 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum II Latches, in a Ship, are the same with Laskets.
1875 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. II. 1238/2 Two positions of the latch-needle: one with the latch lying back,..the other showing the hook closed by the latch.
b. Electronics. A logic circuit which retains whatever output state results from a momentary input signal until the application of a different signal to the same input point or the same signal to a different point. Also latch circuit.
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society > computing and information technology > [noun] > logic > operation > logic element > circuit containing
OR gate1953
parametron1956
latch1959
XOR gate1969
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electronics > electronic phenomena > electronic circuit > [noun] > trigger circuit > switching circuit
flip-flop1935
toggle circuit1953
latch1959
1959 E. M. Grabbe et al. Handbk. Automation, Computation, & Control II. xvii. 6 A delay element is provided with external gating which enables it to hold information provided on the ‘set’ input until a ‘reset’ input of 1 occurs. This configuration..is sometimes referred to as a latch.
1962 J. H. Simpson & R. S. Richards Physical Princ. Junction Transistors xvi. 403 A variant of it [sc. the ‘flip-flop’], known as the latch, is an asymmetric bistable multivibrator.
1971 J. H. Smith Digital Logic iv. 54 A push button might be pressed and at a certain time in a machine sequence the fact that the button was pressed may be needed to change the sequence. The latch circuit is therefore used to ‘remember’ that a push button has been pressed.
1971 J. H. Smith Digital Logic iv. 54 A 1 signal applied momentarily to the set input of NOR 1 will make O/P1 a 0 signal... To reset the latch a 1 signal is fed to the reset input which makes O/P2 fall to 0. As NOR 1 no longer has a 1 input, O/P1 changes to 1, thereby holding O/P2 at the 0 level.
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society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > device for discharging missiles > archer's weapons > [noun] > bow > crossbow
arbalesta1100
arbalestrea1387
crossbow1432
pellock bow1537
latch1547
piece1590
stock-bow1598
steel bow1607
balister1679
arcubalist1774
oblest1780
1547–8 in S. R. Meyrick Crit. Inq. into Antient Armour (1824) III. 10 Crosse-bowes called latches, windlasses for them.
1786 F. Grose Treat. Anc. Armour 59 There were two sorts of English cross bows, one called Latches, the other Prodds.
Compounds
C1. General attributive.
latch-hole n.
ΘΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [noun] > latch-hole
latch-hole1861
1861 ‘G. Eliot’ Silas Marner iv. 72 Dunstan..pushed his fingers through the latch-hole.
1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders 246 One that came to the door and spied upon me through the latch-hole.
C2.
latch-like adj.
C3. Also latchkey n., latch-string n. † latch-drawer n. Obsolete one who draws or lifts the latch to enter for an unlawful purpose: = draw latch n. 1.
latch bolt n. (see quots.).
ΘΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > that which or one who closes or shuts > [noun] > bolt or bar
shuttle971
barc1175
esselc1275
slota1300
sperel13..
ginc1330
staple-bar1339
shotc1430
shuttingc1440
shutc1460
spar1596
counter-bar1611
shooter1632
drawbar1670
night bolt1775
drop-bolt1786
snibbing-bolt1844
stay-band1844
window bar1853
heck-stower1876
barrel bolt1909
latch bolt1909
panic bolt1911
1909 Cent. Dict. Suppl. Latch-bolt, any latch or door-bolt, controlled by a spring and having a beveled head which, when the door is closed, is pressed back by meeting the strike and is thrown out again when the door is shut: the common form of self-locking bolt.
1958 Encycl. Locks (J. Parkes & Sons Ltd.) 247 A spring bolt, called also a latch bolt, of a lock or latch is one which having been drawn in shoots out automatically as soon as the handle or key is released.
latch-closer n.
ΘΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > burglar > [noun] > who draws or lifts latch
draw latch1331
latch-drawer1393
sneck-drawer1402
sneck-draw1886
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. ix. 288 Lyers and lacche-drawers.
c1450 Jacob's Well (1900) 134 Lacchedrawerys þat vndon mennys dorys.
latch-lifter n.
latch-needle n. a kind of knitting-machine needle, the hook of which is closed by a latch (see 3a(e)).
ΚΠ
1875Latch-needle [see sense 3a].
Categories »
latch-opener n. devices for closing and opening the latch of a knitting-machine needle (E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. 1875).
Draft additions January 2018
The positioning of a baby's mouth on its mother's breast during breastfeeding; an instance of a baby placing its mouth on its mother's breast to feed. Also in latch-on. Frequently with evaluative modifying word, as good latch, successful latch, etc.
Π
1982 Nursing Mirror 22 Sept. 64/1 I knew it was important to get a good ‘latch’ but the harder I tried the more inept I became.
1988 J. M. Hopkinson & C. Garza in R. C. Tsang & B. L. Nichols Nutrition during Infancy xviii. 311/2 Nipple pain decreased within 1 minute of latch-on.
2003 Re: Nipple Shields in misc.kids.breastfeeding (Usenet newsgroup) 15 Aug. He literally only needed one successful latch and decent feed to get the picture.
2012 Green Parent Apr. 66/2 Make sure your baby is well positioned and their latch is good.
2015 P. A. Mackin Your Breastfeeding Guidebk. 246 As you are learning, you will likely experience a painful latch.
Draft additions 1997
latch hook n. a hand-tool used chiefly in rug-making to draw the yarn through the canvas.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > [noun] > other tools and equipment
pollhache1324
poleaxe1356
muckrake1366
pestlea1382
botea1450
staff1459
press-board1558
reel1593
water crane1658
lathekin1659
tower1662
dressing hook1683
liner1683
hovel1686
flax-brake1688
nipper1688
horse1728
tap1797
feather-stick1824
bow1839
safety belt1840
economizer1841
throttle damper1849
cleat1854
leg brace1857
bark-peeler1862
pugging screw1862
nail driver1863
spool1864
turntable1865
ovate1872
tension bar1879
icebreaker1881
spreader1881
toucher1881
window pole1888
mushroom head1890
rat1894
slackline1896
auger1897
latch hook1900
thimble1901
horse1904
pipe jack1909
mulcher1910
hand plate1911
splashguard1917
cheese-cutter1927
airbrasive1945
impactor1945
fogger1946
society > occupation and work > equipment > other specific types of equipment > [adjective] > other
latch hook1900
1900 J. K. Mumford Oriental Rugs xii. 235 One division of these Turkoman carpets, which avoids on the one hand close adherence to the Bokhara device, and on the other the latch-hook style of the Yomuds, is called Beshir.
1937 Textile Mercury & Argus 16 July 63/2 Latch-hook design. This design motif..is the characteristic mark of Caucasian rugs and carpets since it is rarely absent from either field or border. It is not seen in Persian rugs.
1981 Handtools of Arts & Crafts (Diagram Group) xv. 256/4 Latch hooks for knotted rugs; these hooks take the yarn through the canvas and bring it back to the surface.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† latchn.2
Nautical. Obsolete.
? = lurch n.3 (See also lee-latch n. at lee n.1 Compounds 2.)
ΚΠ
a1687 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1691) iii. 51 Such [Ships] as draw much Water, and have a deep Latch in the Sea.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
latchv.1
/latʃ/, U.S. /lætʃ/ 1. 1937 Esquire Jan. 146/2 Dar's uh green sedan up front, uh fo' do' job. Latch on it 'n earn dis dime.1940 Sat. Evening Post 13 Jan. 17/3 I latched onto a shark and killed it.1946 B. Treadwell Big Bk. of Swing 125/1 Latch on, grab on to.1951 I. Shaw Troubled Air viii. 144 They're out for something of their own and they latch on to us.1954 D. Riesman Individualism Reconsidered xiv. 220 [He] has latched on to American consumption know-how at its most garish.1957 New Yorker 29 June 68/2 Mr. Kelly has latched on to a sound (indeed, indestructible) idea for keeping a film in motion.1959 C. MacInnes Absolute Beginners 58 Hundreds of pure pink numbers..who've latched on to the Welfare thing, but don't belong here.1962 J. Wain Strike Father Dead 107 It was a long time before I could latch on to what was happening. Then I got it.1968 Listener 27 June 837/1 When the doctor said, ‘You're going to die, you'd better come back into hospital,’ I said: ‘Thanks for telling me. I'm going to latch on to life and I'm not coming back to hospital.’1971 Engineering Apr. 41/3 The astute entrepreneurs are latching on to the idea.1972 C. Drummond Death at Bar i. 36 Jarvis soon latched on to two portly dowagers—relatives of his hostess.† b. To put or strike swiftly off, out, up; to dart out (the tongue). Also figurative. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To take hold of, grasp, seize (esp. with the hand or claws); to clasp, embrace (with the arms); to grasp with the mind, to comprehend. Now only intransitive or absol. with on, †at, †till.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > understand [verb (transitive)]
yknoweOE
acknowOE
anyeteOE
latchc1000
undernimc1000
understandc1000
underyetec1000
afindOE
knowOE
seeOE
onfangc1175
takec1175
underfindc1200
underfonga1300
undertakea1300
kenc1330
gripea1340
comprehend1340
comprendc1374
espyc1374
perceivea1387
to take for ——?1387
catcha1398
conceivea1398
intenda1400
overtakea1400
tenda1400
havec1405
henta1450
comprise1477
skilla1500
brook1548
apprend1567
compass1576
perstanda1577
endue1590
sound1592
engrasp1593
in1603
fathom1611
resent1614
receivea1616
to take up1617
apprehend1631
to take in1646
grasp1680
understumblec1681
forstand1682
savvy1686
overstand1699
uptake1726
nouse1779
twig1815
undercumstand1824
absorb1840
sense1844
undercumstumble1854
seize1855
intelligize1865
dig1935
read1956
the mind > possession > taking > take [verb (transitive)]
nimeOE
haveeOE
atleada1000
latchc1000
take?a1160
takec1175
hentc1300
catcha1382
privea1387
nighc1400
betakec1420
fonc1425
prend1447
win1515
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > hold [verb (transitive)] > lay hold of or grasp
i-fangc888
gripc950
repeOE
befongOE
keepc1000
latchc1000
hentOE
begripec1175
becatchc1200
fang?c1200
i-gripea1225
warpa1225
fastenc1225
arepa1250
to set (one's) hand(s onc1290
kip1297
cleach?a1300
hendc1300
fasta1325
reachc1330
seizec1374
beclipc1380
takea1387
span1398
to seize on or upon1399
getc1440
handc1460
to catch hold1520
to take hold1530
to lay hold (up)on, of1535
grasple1553
to have by the backa1555
handfast1562
apprehend1572
grapple1582
to clap hold of1583
comprehend1584
graspa1586
attach1590
gripple1591
engrasp1593
clum1594
to seize of1600
begriple1607
fast hold1611
impalm1611
fista1616
to set (one's) hand to1638
to get one's hands on1649
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > understand [verb (intransitive)] > reach understanding of
reach1582
tumble1846
to catch on1882
waken1899
to wise up1905
to tune in1926
to cotton on1929
plug1948
latch1954
c1000 Ælfric Gram. (Z.) viii. 23 Ðis þing ic gelæhte.
c1000 Ælfric Homilies II. 122 Germanus gelæhte ðone pistol æt Gregories ærendracan, and hine totær.
c1160 Hatton Gosp. Mark ix. 18 Se swa hwær he hine læcd [Ags. Gosp. gelæcð] forgnit hine.
a1225 Juliana 38 Þis eadie meiden..þen engel leop to ant lahte him.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 81 Hweðer þe cat of helle clachte..& lachte [a1250 Titus lahte, a1250 Nero cauhte] eauer hire wið his cleaures hire heorte he haueð.
a1300 K. Horn 243 Horn in herte laȝte Al þat he him taȝte.
13.. Parl. thre Ages 52 Bot at the laste he loutted doun & laughte till his mete.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 2621 A fostre-wimman On was tette he sone aueð lagt.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7240 Quils sampson slepped, sco laght a schere, His hare sco kerf.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 328 Lyȝtly lepeȝ he hym to, & laȝt at his honde.
c1400 St. Alexius (Laud 622) 219 And whan he [Alexius] seide had al his wille þe holy gost hir lauȝtte.
a1440 Sir Degrev. 827 And I in armus had y-lauȝthe That commely and swete.
c1480 (a1400) St. Barnabas 140 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 253 Fra barnabas had tauchte þe trewtht to hyme, he it son lacht.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer i. f. cccxxviiiv Than were there ynowe to lache myn handes and drawe me to shyppe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impact > striking > strike [verb (transitive)] > strike out with a blow
latcha1225
slentc1380
to hit out1393
squat?1553
slat1577
to knock outa1616
king1916
the world > space > place > removal or displacement > remove or displace [verb (transitive)] > remove or take away > from the position of being on
latcha1225
off-wevec1300
to take offa1400
to get off1577
to lay offa1593
daff1609
off1826
the world > space > relative position > posture > position of specific body parts > position specific body part [verb (transitive)] > head, face, or eyes > tongue
latcha1225
yellc1500
lill1530
lolla1616
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > lead or bring out > pull out
latcha1225
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > hold [verb (transitive)] > lay hold of or grasp > quickly or suddenly > snatch up
latcha1225
plitcha1400
snap1550
snatch1555
click1651
snack1871
scoop1916
snarf1968
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > swift movement in specific manner > move swiftly in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > move swiftly and suddenly > out > of the tongue
latcha1225
the world > movement > impact > striking > strike [verb (transitive)] > strike off with a blow
to smite offa1225
latch1535
wipe1596
to knock offa1616
slat1828
a1225 St. Marher. 9 Lahte ut his tunge swa long þat he swong hire al abuten his swire, ant semde as þa ha scharp sweord of his muð lahte.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 2308 Our wurþi werwolf..lauȝt vp þe ȝong lyoun liȝtly in his mouþe.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1244 Þanne liȝtly lep he a-doun & lauȝt out his brond.
?a1400 Morte Arth. 1515 Þay ledde hym furthe in þe rowte, and lached ofe his wedes.
c1400 (?c1380) Patience l. 425 Now lorde lach out my lyf, hit lastes to longe.
c1430 Hymns Virg. 76 For deeþ his swerd out haþ lauȝte.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 383 Helme and hewmont wer hewin in schunder, Lymnis war lachit hard of be the kne.
a. To take with force; to capture, seize upon (a person or his goods). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > seizing > seize [verb (transitive)] > with violence or forcibly
reaveeOE
latchc950
seize1338
rape?1387
wrestc1426
extort1529
redeema1578
wreathe1590
force1602
extend1610
wrencha1616
c950 Lindisf. Gosp. Mark xiv. 48 Allsuæ to ðeafe gie foerdon mið suordum et stengum..to læccane mec.
c1000 Ags. Laws, Instit. Polity §19 (Thornton) II. 328 Hi..læccað of manna begeatum hwæt hi gefon magan.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. iii. 215 And if ȝe lacche lyere let hym nat a-skapie.
1399 W. Langland Richard Redeles ii. 159 The knyttis..That rentis and robis with raveyn evere lauȝte.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7928 For to spar his aun aght þis pouer mans scep he laght.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6766 If I giue þe for to kepe Ox or ass..And it wit wiþerwin be laght.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) I. 277 The Romanis fled..thai war lachit at the last.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > hunt [verb (transitive)] > trap
grina850
latchc1175
snarl1398
snarea1425
caltropc1440
trapa1500
attrap1524
gin1583
toil1592
springe1606
snickle1615
wire1749
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 13474 To lacchenn him wiþþ spelless nett. To brinngenn himm to criste.
a1250 Owl & Nightingale 1057 Lim and grinei..Sette and lede the for to lacche.
c1350 Pope Gregory in Legendae Catholicae (1840) 17 Out of an abbay thai weren ysent With nettes..To lache fische.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 29532 Ar þou be laght in findes snarr.
3. To catch (something falling); to catch or receive in (a receptacle). Obsolete exc. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > absence of movement > hold or holding > hold [verb (transitive)] > catch something moving or falling
receive1485
recueil1490
catcha1500
latch1530
snare1942
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 604/1 I latche, I catche a thyng that is throwen to me in my handes..je happe. If I had latched the potte betyme, it had nat fallen to the grounde.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Mar. 94 Tho pumie stones I hastly hent And threwe; but nought availed: He..oft the pumies latched.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. 161 Some latch the firebrands as they flew.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 301 Vnlesse there be good heed taken that the eggs be latched in some soft bed vnder~neath, they are soone broken.
1640 tr. J. A. Comenius Janua Linguarum Reserata (new ed.) xxxv. §415 A dairy-maid milketh out milk, latching it in a milk-paile.
1640 tr. J. A. Comenius Janua Linguarum Reserata (new ed.) xli. §445 The droppings, or any thing else spilt by chance is latcht in a latch-pan.
1787 W. Marshall Provincialisms in Rural Econ. Norfolk II. 383 To Latch, to catch as water.
a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Latch, to catch what falls.
4. † b. In Middle English poetry often used (esp. for alliteration) in various senses of take v.; e.g. in phrases to latch delight, to latch one's ease, one's leave. Obsolete.
a. To be the recipient of, to get; to receive (a name, gift; a blow, injury); to catch, take (a disease). Obsolete exc. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > acquisition > receiving > receive [verb (transitive)] > be given
underfoc888
afangOE
underfongc1175
getc1300
latchc1300
undertake1393
receivea1400
to take up1639
to come into ——1672
to fall in for1788
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 744 The stede of Grim the name laute.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 332 Þe erle of Arundelle his londes lauht he þan.
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. Wace (Rolls) 8813 Þo þat were seke, or had laught skaþes.
1340–70 Alex. & Dind. 40 For we ben hid in oure holis or we harm laache.
1340–70 Alisaunder 4 Lordes, and ooþer..þat boldely thinken..For to lachen hem loose.
1393 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. ii. 101 Thei shoulde..neuere leue for loue in hope to lacche seluer.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 19038 Þai þat had hus or ani aght þai sald þam and þe pris laght, Be-for þe apostels fete it broght.
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) ii. l. 2295 Þe kyng stode ouer nehi, þe stroke he lauht so smerte.
c1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 3230 For nowther of tham na woundes laght.
1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid viii. Prol. 27 All leidis langis in land to lauch quhat thaim leif is.
a1603 T. Cartwright Confut. Rhemists New Test. (1618) 306 They should haue warded and latched the enemies strokes.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) iv. iii. 196 I haue words That would be howl'd out in the desert ayre, Where hearing should not latch them. View more context for this quotation
1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island ix. i. 122 The Bridegroom Sunne..Leaves his star-chamber..His shines the Earth soon latcht to gild her flowers.
1649 Bp. J. Hall Resol. & Decisions ii. x. 205 A man that latches the weapon in his own body to save his Prince.
c1655 R. Loveday Lett. (1659) 47 My first request then is, that if you latch any news that [etc.]..you will not grudge to send it me.
1875 Lanc. Gloss. (at cited word) To latch a distemper.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ceasing > temporary cessation of activity or operation > temporarily cease activity or operation [verb (intransitive)] > rest
restOE
to hang up one's hatcheta1350
to latch one's ease, one's leave1377
sabbatize1382
roc1460
repose1494
repause1526
respire1566
respite1587
requiesce1653
to rest (also lie) on one's oars1726
to lay off1841
to rest up1858
spell1880
to lie off1891
society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart from or leave [verb (transitive)] > set out on (a journey, etc.)
to latch one's ease, one's leave1377
frame1576
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous act or expression > use formal courtesy in act or expression [verb (intransitive)] > bid farewell
to take leavelOE
to latch one's ease, one's leave1377
to take congee1377
fangc1400
adieua1500
to get one's leave?a1513
to take adieu (also farewell)1539
to shake hands1546
congeea1616
to give congeea1645
farewell1930
sayonara1949
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xvii. 148 The sone that sent was til erthe..and mankynde lauȝte.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman C. iv. 26 Whenne thei had lauht here leue at þys lady mede.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 10778 Þan was þe mai ioseph bi-taght, And he has hir in spusail laght.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 4999 Þair leue þai laght.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 2445 To pastur commun þai laght þe land þe quilk þam neiest lay to hand.
a1400–50 Alexander 3861 He..Þoȝt þare a longe quile to lie & lachen his esee.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1676 For-þy þow lye in þy loft & lach þyn ese.
c1400 (?c1380) Pearl l. 1128 To loue þe lombe his meyny in melle, I-wysse I laȝt a gret delyt.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 13360 Euery lede to the lond laghtyn þere gayre.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > arrival > arrive at or reach [verb (transitive)]
to come toOE
reachOE
hita1075
ofreachlOE
catchc1330
latchc1330
recovera1375
getc1390
henta1393
win?1473
fetch1589
to fetch up1589
obtain1589
attainc1592
make1610
gaina1616
arrive1647
advene1684
strike1798
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > reaching a point or place > reach (a point or place) [verb (transitive)] > arrive at
latchc1330
recovera1375
fetch1556
to fetch up1589
tocome1596
arrive1647
c1330 R. Mannyng Chron. (1810) 120 With hors & herneis Bristow has scho latched.
?a1400 Morte Arth. 750 Launchez lede apone lufe, lacchene þer depez.
c1400 Ywaine & Gaw. 2025 Fra his lord the way he laght.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 5702 And who þat lacchit the lond with the lyf þen, Were..tyrnet to dethe.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 12483 Thus the lordes in hor longyng laghton þe watur.
6. intransitive. To alight, settle. dialect.
ΚΠ
a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Latch,..to alight. Ex. ‘He will always latch on his legs.’
1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words I Latch, to light or fall. Suffolk. Kennet gives these meanings as current in Durham.
1871 East Anglian IV. 111 The Golden crested Wren, often caught by the hand while ‘latching’ in the rigging.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
latchv.2
/latʃ/, U.S. /lætʃ/, Scottish English /latʃ/ Scottish and English regional (northern) in later use. Now rare.† 1. transitive. To slacken, loosen (a bridle or reins). Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
c1400 (?a1300) Kyng Alisaunder (Laud) (1952) l. 2719 (MED) He smyt þe stede and lacheþ [a1425 Linc. Inn lette] þe bride; Aȝeins hym he gynneþ ride.
2. † a. transitive. To delay, to put off; to be careless about, to neglect. Also with infinitive clause as object. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > delay [verb (transitive)]
forslowc888
eldc897
forsita940
gele971
lengOE
drilla1300
delayc1300
onfrestc1300
tarryc1320
jornc1330
dretchc1380
defer1382
forbida1387
to put offa1387
to put (also set) (something) in (or on) delaya1393
dilate1399
fordrawa1400
to put overc1410
latch?c1422
adjournc1425
prolongc1425
proloynec1425
rejournc1425
to put in respite1428
sleuthc1430
respitea1450
prorogue1453
refer1466
sleep1470
supersede1482
respectc1487
postpone1496
overseta1500
respett1500
enjourna1513
relong1523
retract1524
tarde1524
track1524
to fode forth1525
tract1527
protract1528
further1529
to make stay of1530
surcease1530
prorogate1534
to fay upon longc1540
linger1543
retard?1543
slake1544
procrastine1548
reprieve1548
remit1550
suspense1556
leave1559
shiftc1562
suspend1566
procrastinate1569
dally1574
post1577
to hold off1580
drift1584
loiter1589
postpose1598
to take one's (own) timea1602
flag1602
slug1605
elong1610
belay1613
demur1613
tardya1616
to hang up1623
frist1637
disjourn1642
future1642
off1642
waive1653
superannuate1655
perendinate1656
stave1664
detard1675
remora1686
to put back1718
withhold1726
protract1737
to keep over1847
to hold over1853
laten1860
to lay over1885
hold1891
back-burner1975
the world > action or operation > inaction > not doing > not do [verb (transitive)] > leave undone or fail to carry out > delay or defer doing
forsita940
latch?c1422
?c1422 T. Hoccleve Ars Sciendi Mori l. 362 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 191 Wo is me, þat my lyf so synfully I ledde, and to correcte it lachid y.
c1440 ( J. Gaytryge Lay Folks' Catech. (Thornton) in G. G. Perry Relig. Pieces in Prose & Verse (1914) 13 To lache any gude dedis þat we sall do þat may turne vs till helpe.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xii. x. 146 And mony tymys hym selvyn hes accusyt, That he sa lang had lachit and reffusyt To ressaue glaidly the Troiane Ene.
1586 in W. A. Craigie Maitland Quarto MS (1920) lxxxiv. 6 Efter reading twyis Laich not to read it thryis.
b. intransitive. To be negligent; to idle, loiter, delay. Sc. National Dict. (at cited word) records this sense as still in use in north-eastern Scotland in 1960.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (intransitive)] > lag or fall behind
latch1530
drawlatch1599
to fall behind1652
to hang behind1677
tail1750
lack1775
drop1823
c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1905) II. 323 He commandyd his archedekyn to garr hym be cledd, and he lachid þerin.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 604/1 I latche, I lagge, I tary behynde my company, je tarde... You ever latche whan you be sente upon an erande.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer ii. f. cccl/1 Howe ferre maye my wytte stretche? And thou lache not on thy syde I wol make the knotte.
1607 G. Markham Cavelarice iii. 67* If either of the match-horses shall latch or loyter behinde.
1824 W. Carr Horæ Momenta Cravenæ 88 Laitch, to be idle.
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. Leytch, to loiter. Tweedd.
1866 W. Gregor Dial. Banffshire (Philol. Soc.) 101 ‘He's eye latchin at's wark, an' eye ahin.’.. ‘He steed latchin' aboot o' the rod.’
1902 G. Williams in Eng. Dial. Dict. III. 507/2 [Aberdeenshire] Dinna latch that wye at yer wark.
1929 M. W. Simpson Day’s End 36 April's up an' buskit braw—Trig, an' gleg, an' unco thrang, For the jaud's been latchen lang.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
latchv.3
/latʃ/, U.S. /lætʃ/ a. transitive. To fasten or secure with a latch.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > close or shut [verb (transitive)] > close (a door, window, etc.) > bolt, bar, or lock
sparc1175
pena1200
louka1225
bara1300
shutc1320
lockc1325
clicketc1390
keyc1390
pinc1390
sneckc1440
belocka1450
spare?c1450
latch1530
to lock up1549
slot1563
bolt1574
to lock to?1575
double-lock1594
stang1598
obserate1623
padlock1722
button1741
snib1808
chain1839
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 604/1 I latche a doore, I shytte it by the latche.
1556 J. Heywood Spider & Flie lvii. 89 The very locke and key, That lacheth and lockth vs all, from quiet stey.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. May 291 He popt him in, and his basket did latch.
1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iv. xv. 288 He latched the garden gate.
1882 J. Hawthorne Fortune's Fool (1883) i. xxxi The street door was to be latched, but not bolted.
b. slang. (See quot.)
ΚΠ
1725 New Canting Dict. Latch, let in.
1728 Street-robberies, Consider'd 33 Latch, let in.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
† latchv.4
Building. Obsolete. rare.
transitive. To cover with interlaced work. (Cf. lace n. 3.)
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > constructing or working with wood > build or construct with wood [verb (transitive)] > in specific way
latch1598
1598 in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) II. 252 The particions betwixt euery fellowes chamber on both sides of the same to be double latched with good lath lyme and hare.
1625 S. Purchas Pilgrimes ii. 1369 Rampiers made of that woodden walled fashion, double, and betwixt them Earth and Stones, but so latched with crosse Timber, they are very strong.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
<
n.11331
n.2a1687
v.1c950v.2c1400v.31530v.41598- pavefy
- pavement
- pavement artist
- pavement café
- pavement cell
- pavement dealer
- pavement epithelium
- pavement floor
- pavement pounder
- pavement princess
- pavement rage
- pavement rammer
- pavement stone
- pavement tile
- pavement tooth
- pavement-beater
- pavement-like
- pavement-side
- pavement-toothed
- pavemental
- pavementbeater
- pavemented
- pavementing
- pavementlike
- pavements