Why is it called mistake?

Understanding the Term 'Mistake'

The term mistake has its origins in the mid-14th century, initially meaning "to commit an offense." By the late 14th century, it evolved to signify "to misunderstand, misinterpret, or interpret incorrectly." This evolution can be traced back to the prefix mis- (indicating something done poorly or incorrectly) combined with the word take, or potentially from a related Scandinavian term such as the Old Norse mistaka, which means "to take in error" or "to fail." It’s possible that the current definition is a blend of both linguistic influences.