The word 'swatch' emerged in the early 18th century, primarily within the textile trade of Northern England and Scotland. Its precise origin is uncertain, but it is likely derived from a variant of the Middle English word 'swache', meaning a strip of cloth or a patch. This, in turn, may have connections to the Old English word 'swæcc', meaning 'taste' or 'flavour', metaphorically extending to a small sample. The modern, specific meaning of a fabric or color sample was solidified by the 19th century, and the term gained broader recognition in the late 20th century through the brand name of a popular watch company, which adopted the word to suggest a collection of colorful, interchangeable watch straps.

The word is a simplex. It is a variant or alteration of the earlier English word 'swatch', meaning a sample piece, possibly related to the dialectal word 'swatch' meaning a group or bunch.