Garbage
/ˈɡɑːr.bɪdʒ/noun
Discarded or unwanted material, especially household waste.
Did you know?In late medieval English, garbage could mean the unwanted internal organs and refuse left after dressing an animal—so calling something “garbage” once evoked literal kitchen offal.
Etymological Timeline
Possibly Medieval French
Old French
garbe
“A sheaf or bundle; a proposed source connected with the idea of refuse bundled together, though the origin is uncertain.”
15th Century
Anglo-French
garbage
“The entrails or unwanted parts removed from an animal during butchery.”
Late 15th Century
English
garbage
“Offal, kitchen refuse, or discarded food matter.”
16th Century
English
garbage
“Waste material generally; anything regarded as worthless.”
Modern English
English
garbage
“Household refuse or, figuratively, something considered useless or of very poor quality.”