late 13c., dette, from Old French dete, from Latin debitum "thing owed," neuter past participle of debere "to owe," originally, "keep something away from someone," from de- "away" (see de-) + habere "to have" (see habit, n.). Restored spelling after c.1400. In Middle English, debt of the body (mid-14c.) was "that which spouses owe to each other, sexual intercourse."