match [OE] Match in the sense ‘be the same as’ comes from an Old English word meaning ‘mate, companion’ which probably goes back to the same root as Old English make. Use of the word to mean ‘contest, competitive trial’ dates from the early 16th century. The match associated with fire was first used to mean ‘candle wick’. It is from Old French meche, perhaps from Latin myxa meaning ‘spout of a lamp, lamp wick’. The wooden match we are familiar with today dates from the early 19th century.