'umpire' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'noumpere,' where 'non-' meant 'not' and 'per' meant 'equal.'

'noumpere' transformed into the modern English word 'umpire' through the loss of the initial 'n' due to misdivision.

Initially, it meant 'a person who is not an equal,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'an official in a game.'