garbage Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)
    scraps; food waste; refuse.
  2. noun a worthless message
    drivel.
  3. noun a receptacle where waste can be discarded
    • she tossed the moldy bread into the garbage

WordNet

Gar"bage noun
Etymology
OE. also garbash, perh. orig., that which is purged or cleansed away; cf. OF. garber to make fine, neat, OHG. garawan to make ready, prepare, akin to E. garb dress; or perh. for garbleage, fr. garble; or cf. OF. garbage tax on sheaves, E. garb sheaf.
Definitions
  1. Offal, as the bowels of an animal or fish; refuse animal or vegetable matter from a kitchen; hence, anything worthless, disgusting, or loathsome. Grainger.
Gar"bage transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To strip of the bowels; to clean. "Pilchards . . . are garbaged." Holland.

Webster 1913