'arrest' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'arester' (or 'arrestar'), which came via Vulgar Latin *arrestare (from Latin elements ad- + 'restare').

'arrest' changed from Old French 'arester' and Middle English 'arresten' and eventually became the modern English word 'arrest'.

Initially, it meant 'to stop or cause to stay' (to halt or detain); over time it broadened to include the specific legal sense 'to take into custody', which is now a primary meaning.