Origin: 1350–1400;Middle English < Medieval Latinpūnctuālis of a point, equivalent to Latinpūnctu(s) a point, a pricking (pung(ere) to prick + -tus suffix of v. action) + -ālis-al1; see pungent
c.1400, from M.L. punctualis (c.1210), from L. punctus "a pricking" (see point). Originally "having a sharp point;" meaning "prompt" first recorded 1675, from notion of "insisting on fine points." Punctuality "exactness" is from 1620.