Late 17th century; earliest use found in English Atlas. From post-classical Latin commissorius of commission (from early 13th cent. in British sources in littere commissorie letters of commission; already in classical Latin (as commissōrius) designating a clause in an agreement by which a creditor could take possession of a property, goods, etc., on non-payment of money owed for it (2nd cent. a.d.); from commiss-, past participial stem of committere + -ōrius) + -al.