Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.643

c10.643

**AVERAGE**, s. Skeat derives this in all its senses from L. Latin *averia*, used for cattle; for his deduction of meanings we must refer to his Dictionary. But it is worthy of consideration whether *average*, in its special marine use for a proportionate contribution towards losses of those whose goods are cast into the sea to save a ship, &c., is not directly connected with the Fr. *avarie*, which has quite that signification. And this last Dozy shows most plausibly to be from the Ar. *‘awār*, spoilt merchandise. [This is rejected by the *N.E.D.*, which concludes that the Ar. *‘awār* is "merely a mod. Arabic translation and adaptation of the Western term in its latest sense."] Note that many European words of trade are from the Arabic; and that *avarie* is in Dutch *avarij*, *averij*, or *haverij*.—(See Dozy, *Oosterlingen*.)