latch

Etymology 1

From Middle English lacchen (“to seize, catch, grasp”, verb), from Old English læċċan (“to grasp, take hold of, catch, seize”), from Proto-Germanic *lakjaną, *lakwijaną, *lakkijaną (“to seize”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leh₂g-, *(s)leh₂gʷ- (“to take, seize”). Cognate with Middle Dutch lakken (“to grasp, catch”).

verb

1. To close or lock as if with a latch.
2. (transitive) To catch; lay hold of.

Etymology 2

From Middle English latche, lacche (“a latch; a trap”), from lacchen (“to seize, catch, grasp”), from Old English læċċan (“to grasp, take hold of, catch, seize”). See above for more.

noun

1. A fastening for a door that has a bar that fits into a notch or slot, and is lifted by a lever or string from either side.
2. (electronics) An electronic circuit that is like a flip-flop, except that it is level triggered instead of edge triggered.
3. (obsolete) A latching.
4. (obsolete) A crossbow.
5. (obsolete) That which fastens or holds; a lace; a snare.
6. A breastfeeding baby's connection to the breast.
7. (databases) A lightweight lock to protect internal structures from being modified by multiple concurrent accesses.

Etymology 3

Compare French lécher (“to lick”).

verb

1. (obsolete) To smear; to anoint.