Old English metan "to find, find out; fall in with, encounter; obtain," from Proto-Germanic *motjan (cognates: Old Norse mæta, Old Frisian meta, Old Saxon motian "to meet," Gothic gamotijan), from PIE root *mod- "to meet, assemble." Related to Old English gemot "meeting." Meaning "to assemble" is from 1520s. Of things, "to come into contact," c.1300. Related: Met; meeting. To meet (someone) halfway in the figurative sense is from 1620s.

"proper, fitting," Old English gemæte, Anglian *gemete, "suitable, having the same dimensions," from Proto-Germanic *ga-mætijaz (cognates: Old Norse mætr, Old High German gimagi, German gemäß "suitable"), from collective prefix *ga- + PIE *med- "to measure" (see medical, adj.). The basic formation is thus the same as that of commensurate.

1831 in the sporting sense, originally of gatherings for hunting, from meet, v..