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)Words nearby latch
British Dictionary definitions for latch onto
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
Idioms and Phrases with latch onto
latch onto
Also, latch on to.
Get hold of, grasp; also, understand, grasp mentally. For example, They latched onto a fortune in the fur trade, or Carol quickly latched on to how the sewing machine works. [c. 1930]
Attach oneself to, join in with, as in Rob didn't know the way so he latched on to one of the older children. [c. 1930]