My Oxford dictionary published 1982 shows secure as transitive verb
with three meanings.

1. to fortify
2. to guarantee, make safe against loss
3. succeeded in getting something coveted as in securing theatre
tickets

Today it often seems to be used to mean "obtain", like a weak form of
(3).

In Canada people would say "secure the boat" meaning tie it up
properly.

Yeah, I'm from Belgium so I have no idea where I got the word...
Inspiration of the moment?
And as an answer to a previous question: I need the information for my
thesis :-)

I'm British too, and -- while I agree that it's familar usage -- I don't think
I've ever seen or heard it much in IT circles.  For instance, according to
Google, I havve never used "secure" as a verb in this newsgroup, but I have
used the words security and secure 46 times[*].

I speculate that:  (a) it is or has been fairly rare in US usage, (b) British
technical usage tends to be imported from the US, so (c) it is rare in British
technical usage.  However (d) the current US "homeland security" hysteria (and
related considerations) have brough the verbal form into fashion over there;
and so (e) it is now entering US technical usage.  So (ta da!) now entering the
world's technical volcabulary.

Or there again, maybe not ;-)

   -- chris

[*] Not counting this post.