E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Alert.
To be on the watch. From the Latin erectus, part. of erigre, to set upright; Italian, erto; French, erte, a watch-tower. Hence the Italian starë all’ erta, the Spanish estar alerta, and the French être à l’erte, to be on the watch.
re, to set upright; Italian, erto; French, erte, a watch-tower. Hence the Italian starë all’ erta, the Spanish estar alerta, and the French être à l’erte, to be on the watch.
