salvage

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To save something from being lost, damaged, or destroyed.

   They managed to salvage a few photographs from the burnt house.

2. 2
   verb

   To rescue something good from a situation that has otherwise failed.

   A late goal salvaged a draw for the home team.

3. 3
   noun

   The rescue of a ship, its crew, or cargo from a wreck or fire.

   The salvage of the sunken cargo took several weeks.

Borrowed from Spanish salvaje, from Catalan salvatge, from Late Latin *salvāticus, alteration of Latin silvāticus (“wild”, literally “of the woods”). Confused false friends; English salvage and Tagalog salbahe (“mischievous, naughty”).

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