myEtymology.com: English etymology of savage

Etymology of the English word savage

the English word savage

derived from the Old French word sauvage

derived from the Latin word salvaticus

derived from the Latin word silvaticus

using the Latin suffix -icus

derived from the Greek suffix -ikos, -ϊκος, -ικος, -ῖκος

derived from the Latin word silva (wood, forest)

unknown etymology, according to Ernout and Meillet, "Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue latine" (1951)

The earliest known usage of savage in English dates from the 13th century.

Word found in Modern English