salvage

[sal-vij] /ˈsæl vɪdʒ/
noun
1.
the act of saving a ship or its cargo from perils of the seas.
2.
the property so saved.
3.
compensation given to those who voluntarily save a ship or its cargo.
4.
the act of saving anything from fire, danger, etc.
5.
the property saved from danger.
6.
the value or proceeds upon sale of goods recovered from a fire.
verb (used with object), salvaged, salvaging.
7.
to save from shipwreck, fire, etc.
Origin
1635-45; < Old French; see save1, -age
Related forms
salvageable, adjective
salvageability, noun
salvager, noun
nonsalvageable, adjective
unsalvageable, adjective
unsalvageably, adverb
unsalvaged, adjective
Can be confused
salvage, selvage.
Synonyms
7. retrieve, recover, rescue.
Examples from the web for salvage
  • When the refund check does come in, several weeks later, it may be too late to salvage their grades for that semester.
  • After a decade of poor planning, the space agency is hoping to salvage what it can.
  • If you want even a chance to salvage your credibility, you might start with practicing what you preach.
  • Now salvage crews are working around the clock to remove containers and pump oil off the ship.
  • And my indefatigable guides scoured antique shops with me to salvage letters that might eventually have been thrown away.
  • Her upper decks were removed during the war for salvage.
  • Unless the team was lucky, finding the money could take months of salvage work.
  • Spent fuel is rich in plutonium and leftover uranium-valuable nuclear material that the plant is designed to salvage.
  • salvage work has long been viewed as a form of legal piracy.
  • Though they are both highly trained deep-sea divers, they play many roles on a salvage job.
British Dictionary definitions for salvage

salvage

/ˈsælvɪdʒ/
noun
1.
the act, process, or business of rescuing vessels or their cargoes from loss at sea
2.
  1. the act of saving any goods or property in danger of damage or destruction
  2. (as modifier): a salvage operation
3.
the goods or property so saved
4.
compensation paid for the salvage of a vessel or its cargo
5.
the proceeds from the sale of salvaged goods or property
verb (transitive)
6.
to save or rescue (goods or property) from fire, shipwreck, etc
7.
to gain (something beneficial) from a failure: she salvaged little from the broken marriage
Derived Forms
salvageable, adjective
salvager, noun
Word Origin
C17: from Old French, from Medieval Latin salvāgium, from salvāre to save1
Word Origin and History for salvage
n.

1640s, "payment for saving a ship from wreck or capture," from French salvage (15c.), from Old French salver "to save" (see save (v.)). The general sense of "the saving of property from danger" is attested from 1878. Meaning "recycling of waste material" is from 1918, from the British effort in World War I.

v.

1889, from salvage (n.). Related: Salvaged; salvaging.

Slang definitions & phrases for salvage

salvage

verb

To steal; loot; liberate (WWI Army)


Encyclopedia Article for salvage

in maritime law, the rescue of a ship or its cargo on navigable waters from a peril that, except for the rescuer's assistance, would have led to the loss or destruction of the property. Under some jurisdictions, aircraft may also be salved. Except for salvage performed under contract, the rescuer-known as the salvor-must act voluntarily without being under any legal duty to do so, apart from the general duty to give assistance to those in peril at sea or to stand by after a collision. So long as the owner or his agent remains on the ship, unwanted offers of salvage may be refused. A derelict-a vessel found entirely deserted or abandoned without hope or intention of recovery-is, however, fair game for anyone who comes across it. Typical acts of salvage include releasing ships that have run aground or on reefs, raising sunken ships (or their cargo), putting out fires, and so on.

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