'catcher' originates from Middle English, formed from the verb 'catch' + the agent suffix '-er'. The verb 'catch' comes from Old North French 'cachier' (from Late Latin 'captiare'), where 'captiare' is related to Latin 'capere' meaning 'to take'.

'catcher' changed from Middle English 'cachen' (from Old North French 'cachier') with the addition of the agent suffix '-er' and eventually became the modern English word 'catcher'.

Initially, it meant 'one who seizes or takes'; over time this core meaning remained but extended to specific senses such as the sporting role in baseball and mechanical devices that 'catch' items.