'control' originates from the Old French word 'contreroller', where 'contre-' meant 'against' and 'roller' meant 'to roll'.

'contreroller' transformed into the Middle English word 'countrollen', and eventually became the modern English word 'control'.

Initially, it meant 'to check or verify by a duplicate register', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to exercise restraint or direction over'.