[1620–30; out- + watch]This word is first recorded in the period 1620–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: acid, contact, grommet, headline, plugout- is a prefixal use of the adverb out, occurring in various senses in compounds (outcast; outcome; outside), and serving also to form many transitive verbs denoting a going beyond, surpassing,or outdoing in the particular action indicated (outbid; outdo; outgeneral; outlast; outstay; outrate)