Early 17th century; earliest use found in Anthony Sherley (1565–?1636), adventurer and diplomat in the Persian service. Probably partly (i) a variant of acquest, after post-classical Latin acquisitum, also (with elision of unstressed medial vowel) acquistum acquisition, property acquired or purchased and Italian acquisto action or process of acquiring something, thing which is or has been acquired, and partly (ii) from acquist.