Definition of the word salvage

The word "salvage" has its roots in the Old French word "salver," which means "to save" or "to rescue." This Old French term is derived from the Latin word "salvare," which also means "to save." The Latin "salvare" is a combination of "sal," meaning "safe," and "vare," meaning "to make." In the 14th century, the English language adopted the word "salvage" from Old French, initially using it to describe the act of saving something from loss, destruction, or shipwreck. Over time, the meaning of "salvage" expanded to include the recovery of valuable goods or materials from a wreck, and eventually, the term took on a broader sense of rescuing or retrieving anything of value. Today, the word "salvage" is commonly used in various contexts, including maritime, insurance, and everyday language.