garb

garb · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*garwijaną“to prepare”
2. Frankish · derived from*garwijan“to prepare”
3. Italian · derived fromgarbo“grace, elegance”
4. Middle French · borrowed fromgarbe
5. English todaygarb

From Middle French garbe ("graceful outline, silhouette"; > Modern French galbe), from Italian garbo (“grace, elegance”), from Germanic (compare Old High German garwi, garawi (“dress, equipment, preparation”), Middle High German gerwe (“outfitting, jewelry, clothing, robe, regalia”), modern German Gärbe, Gerbe and English gear), ultimately from Frankish *garwijan (“to prepare”), from Proto-Germanic *garwijaną (“to prepare”).

garb · noun²

1. Old French · derived fromgarbe
2. Middle English · inherited fromgarbe
3. English todaygarb

From Middle English garbe, from Old French garbe, variant of jarbe; akin to German Garbe. Doublet of gerbe.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from late 16ᵗʰc. Fashion, style of dressing oneself up.
• from early 17ᵗʰc. A type of dress or clothing.