Origin of latch

before 950; 1930–35 for def 5; Middle English lacchen, Old English lǣccan to take hold of, catch, seize; akin to Greek lázesthai to take

OTHER WORDS FROM latch

re·latch, verb (used with object)

British Dictionary definitions for latch on (1 of 2)

latch on

verb (intr, adverb often foll by to) informal

to attach oneself (to) to latch on to a new acquaintance
to understand he suddenly latched on to what they were up to
US and Canadian to obtain; get

British Dictionary definitions for latch on (2 of 2)

latch
/ (lætʃ) /

noun

a fastening for a gate or door that consists of a bar that may be slid or lowered into a groove, hole, etc
a spring-loaded door lock that can be opened by a key from outside
Also called: latch circuit electronics a logic circuit that transfers the input states to the output states when signalled, the output thereafter remaining insensitive to changes in input status until signalled again

verb

to fasten, fit, or be fitted with or as if with a latch

Word Origin for latch

Old English læccan to seize, of Germanic origin; related to Greek lazesthai