I. ˈsalvij, -vēj
archaic
variant of savage
II. noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from salver, sauver to save + -age — more at save
1.
a. : the compensation paid for saving a ship or its cargo from the perils of the sea or for the lives and property rescued in a wreck ; specifically : the compensation allowed to those who under no duty voluntarily save a ship or lives of those belonging to it from peril
awarded the shipping company a large salvage payment
b. : the act of saving or rescuing a ship or its cargo ; specifically : the act of one or more persons who under no duty voluntarily save a ship or its cargo or wreck or in some cases the lives of persons belonging to it from a marine peril or retake and restore it or its cargo when captured in war — compare military salvage
c. : the act of saving or rescuing property in danger (as from fire)
had little time for the salvage of his effects
2.
a. : property saved from destruction in a wreck ; specifically : the part of the property that survives a marine peril and is saved
salvage from the stricken vessel lay on the dock
b. : something extracted (as from wreckage, ruins, or rubbish) as valuable or having further usefulness
the sale of salvage to the poor
specifically : warehouse grain damaged by fire, smoke, or water
c.
(1) : insured goods rescued from destruction or loss
(2) : the value of such goods
(3) : the proceeds from the sale of such goods
3. : something (as an organ, tissue, or patient) saved by preventive or therapeutic measures in medicine
fetal salvage
lung salvage
the salvage rate in tuberculosis
III. “, esp in pres part -vəj transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to rescue or save especially from wreckage or ruin
salvaged torpedoed vessels — Rachel L. Carson
materials salvaged from crashed airplanes — American Fabrics
expect this teacher … to salvage the present or potential hoodlums — A.H.Grommon
salvaging a marriage threatened chiefly by alcohol — J.J.Espey
2. : to save (an organ, tissue, or patient) by preventive or therapeutic measures
a salvaging operation
a salvaged cancer patient