Definition of the word roach

The word "roach" has a fascinating etymology! Its origin can be traced back to the 14th century, when it referred to a type of medieval clause or proviso in a document. Specifically, a "roach" was a clause that made a condition dependent on the performance of another condition. Over time, the term "roach" began to be used to describe a crawling insect, likely due to the idea that just as a roach clause could "crawl" out of a document's clauses, the insect could "crawl" across surfaces. By the 16th century, the insect was commonly referred to as a "roach," and by the 19th century, the term had become a common slang term for the insect. Today, the word "roach" is widely used to describe a type of cockroach, a common household pest.