Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “garbage” come from?

garbage (English) comes from Old French garber, from Frankish garwijan, from Proto-Germanic garwijaną, from Proto-Germanic garwaz, from Proto-Germanic ga-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm, from Proto-Indo-European ḱe, from Middle English kyt — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

garbage (English): Food waste material of any kind; Useless or...

Definitions

  1. Food waste material of any kind; Useless or...

Ancestry of “garbage”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchgarberto refine, make neat or clean
2Frankishgarwijanto make ready; to prepare; to prepare, to ready
3Proto-Germanicgarwijanąto prepare
4Proto-Germanicgarwazready, prepared
5Proto-Germanicga-Indicates association or togetherness; co-;...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
8Middle Englishkyt—
9Germankitt—
10Old High Germankuti—
11Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
12Proto-Germanickweduzresin
13Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
14Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “garbage”

  • garbo
  • garbageman
  • garbology
  • garbologist
  • garbagey
  • garburator
  • carbage
  • garbageless
  • garbagescape
  • garbological
  • garbologically
  • garbageness
  • garbagelike
  • garbageperson
  • garbagewoman
  • kapich
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →