What is the origin of 'sleep tight'?
Read moreOne of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
Punishment.
Late Middle English. From Anglo-Norman puniciun, puniscion, punisscioun, Anglo-Norman and Middle French punicion, Middle French punition punishment and its etymon classical Latin pūnītiōn-, pūnītiō (also poenītiō) punishment from pūnīt-, past participial stem of pūnīre + -iō.