As a noun, a vest is a sleeveless piece of clothing worn on the upper body, sometimes under a jacket. As a verb, to vest means to give someone legal rights or power, especially over property or money.
From Latin 'vestis', meaning 'garment or clothing', through French and English. The legal sense comes from the idea of 'clothing' someone with rights or authority.
When stock options ‘vest’, you’re being metaphorically dressed in ownership. The clothing vest and the legal vest both come from the idea of wrapping someone in something—fabric or power. It’s a reminder that law often borrows images from everyday life.
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