[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886) › c10.643 # Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.643 Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.643 - **Language:** English ### [c10.643](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886.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\*.) - [Previous: c10.642](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886.c10.642) - [Next: c10.644](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886.c10.644) - [Up: c10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886.c10) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886.c10.643](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.yule-burnell-1886.c10.643) · Pramāṇa