waiting 的词源

“观察，注视，观察；埋伏”，晚期古英语，动名词来自wait（动词）。从14世纪晚期起，意为“服务，出席”。

Waiting room的记录始于1680年代。Waiting list的记录始于1841年；动词wait-list“将（某人）放入等待名单”始于1960年。Waiting time始于1962年，最初指计算机。Waiting game的记录始于1835年，最初用于赛马。

When speed, not stoutness, is the best of a horse, quite a contrary system is practised. With such a horse, the jockey plays a waiting game; that is, he carefully nurses him through the race, so as not to distress him by overpacing him; as the finish approaches, he creeps up to his horses by degrees, but does not quit them to go in front till he sees that the pace has made them "safe," — when he lets loose and wins. [James Christie Whyte, "History of the British Turf," London, 1840]

当速度，而不是健壮，是马匹的最佳特性时，采用了完全相反的系统。对于这样的马，骑师玩的是等待游戏；也就是说，他在比赛中小心翼翼地照料它，以免因过快节奏而使其感到压力；随着终点的临近，他逐渐接近他的马，但在看到节奏使它们“安全”之前，不会离开它们领先——当他放手并获胜时。[詹姆斯·克里斯蒂·怀特，《英国赛马史》，伦敦，1840年]