'matchstick' originates from the combination of 'match' and 'stick', where 'match' referred to a device for lighting and 'stick' referred to a slender piece of wood.

'match' changed from the Old French word 'mèche' meaning 'wick', and 'stick' from Old English 'sticca', eventually forming the modern English word 'matchstick'.

Initially, 'match' referred to a wick or cord, but over time it evolved to mean a device for lighting fires, combined with 'stick' to form 'matchstick'.