I. ˈsal-vij noun
Etymology: French, from Middle French, from salver to save — more at save
Date: 1645
1.
a. : 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
b. : the act of saving or rescuing a ship or its cargo
c. : the act of saving or rescuing property in danger (as from fire)
2.
a. : property saved from destruction in a calamity (as a wreck or fire)
b. : something extracted (as from rubbish) as valuable or useful
II. transitive verb
( sal·vaged ; sal·vag·ing )
Date: 1889
: to rescue or save especially from wreckage or ruin
• sal·vage·abil·i·ty ˌsal-vi-jə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun
• sal·vage·able ˈsal-vi-jə-bəl adjective
• sal·vag·er noun