Smartwatch
/ˈsmɑːrt.wɑːtʃ/noun
A wrist-worn digital device that combines the functions of a watch with computing features.
Did you know?Smartwatch is a modern compound from smart and watch, and while it has no occult etymology, it belongs to the long English tradition of turning everyday objects into instruments of power through language.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
smeortan
“to sting or cause pain”
Middle English
ME
smart
“painful, brisk, sharp; later quick-witted”
Old English
OE
wæcc(e)
“a watch, wakefulness, or period of staying awake”
Middle English
ME
watche
“a period of guarding or staying awake; later a timepiece”
20th Century
English
smart watch
“a watch with advanced electronic functions”
Modern English
English
smartwatch
“a wearable digital device with timekeeping and computing features”