A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

scratch (v.) --- 1474, probably a fusion of M.E. scratten and crachen, both meaning "to scratch," both of uncertain origin. The noun is attested from 1586; slang sense of "money" is from 1914, of uncertain signification. Many figurative senses (e.g. up to scratch) are from sporting use for "line or mark drawn as a starting place," attested from 1778 (but the earliest use is figurative); meaning "nothing" (in from scratch) is 1922, also from sporting sense of "starting point of a competitor who receives no odds in a handicap match." Billiards sense of "to hit the cue ball into a pocket" is first recorded 1909 (also, originally, itch), though earlier it meant "a lucky shot" (1850). Verb meaning "to withdraw (a horse) from a race" is 1865, from notion of scratching name off list of competitors; used in a non-sporting sense of "cancel a plan, etc." from 1685.

scrawl (v.) --- 1612, perhaps from M.E. scrawlen "spread out the limbs, sprawl" (c.1380), which possibly is an alteration of sprawlen (see sprawl) or crawl. The noun is recorded from 1693.

scrawny --- 1833, apparently a dialectal variant of scranny "lean, thin" (1820), which is of uncertain origin, perhaps from O.N. skrælna "to shrivel."

scream (v.) --- c.1225, earlier shreamen (c.1200), of uncertain origin, similar to words in Scand., Du., Ger., and Flem. (cf. O.N. skræma "to terrify, scare," Swed. scrana "to scream," O.H.G. scrian, Ger. schreien "to cry"). The noun is attested from 1513.

scree --- 1781, back-formation from screes (pl.) "pebbles, small stones," from O.N. skriða "landslide," from skriða "to slide, glide," from P.Gmc. *skrithanan (cf. O.E. scriþan "to go, glide," O.S. skridan, Du. schrijden, O.H.G. scritan, Ger. schreiten "to stride").

screech --- c.1250, schrichen, possibly of imitative origin (cf. shriek). The noun is first recorded 1560. Screech owl is attested from 1593 (scritch-owl is from 1530).

screed --- c.1315, "fragment, strip of cloth," from northern England dialectal variant of O.E. screade (see shred). Meaning "lengthy speech" is first recorded 1789, from notion of reading from a long list.

screen (n.) --- 1393, probably from an aphetic (Anglo-Fr.?) variant of O.N.Fr. escren, O.Fr. escran "a screen against heat" (1318), perhaps from M.Du. scherm "screen, cover," or Frank. *skrank "barrier," from a Gmc. root related to O.H.G. skirm, skerm "protection" (cf. skirmish). Meaning "net-wire frame used in windows and doors" is recorded from 1895. Meaning "flat horizontal surface for reception of projected images" is from 1810, originally in ref. to magic lantern shows; later of movies. Transf. sense of "cinema world collectively" is attested from 1914; hence screenplay (1938), screen test (1922), screenwriter (1921). Verbal meaning "to shield from punishment, to conceal" is recorded from 1485; meaning "examine systematically for suitability" is from 1943; sense of "to release a movie" is from 1915. Screen saver first attested 1990.

screw (n.) --- 1404, from M.Fr. escroue "nut, cylindrical socket, screwhole," of uncertain etymology; not found in other Romanic languages. Perhaps via Gallo-Romance *scroba or W.Gmc. *scruva from V.L. scrobis "screw-head groove," in classical L. "ditch, trench," also "vagina" (Diez, though OED finds this "phonologically impossible"). Kluge and others trace it to L. scrofa "breeding sow," perhaps based on the shape of a pig's penis (cf. Port. porca, Sp. perca "a female screw," from L. porca "sow"). A group of apparently cognate Gmc. words (M.L.G., M.Du. schruve, Du. schroef, Ger. Schraube, Swed. skrufva "screw") often are said to be Fr. loan-words. Sense of "means of pressure or coercion" is from 1648, probably in ref. to instruments of torture (e.g. thumbscrews). Meaning "prison guard, warden" is 1812 in underworld slang, originally in reference to the key they carried. To have a screw loose "have a dangerous (usually mental) weakness" is recorded from 1810. Screwy (1820) originally meant "tipsy, slightly drunk;" sense of "crazy, ridiculous" first recorded 1887.

screw (v.) --- to twist (something) like a screw, 1599, from screw (n.). Slang meaning "to copulate" dates from at least 1725, on the notion of driving a screw into something. Meaning "a prostitute" also is attested from 1725. Slang meaning "an act of copulation" (n.) is recorded from 1929. First recorded 1949 in exclamations as a euphemism.

screwball (n.) --- eccentric person, 1933, U.S. slang, earlier as a type of erratic baseball pitch (1928), from a still earlier name for a type of bowl in cricket (1866), from screw (n.) + ball. Screwball comedy is attested from 1938.

screwdriver (n.) --- tool for driving screws, 1779, from screw (n.) + driver. Meaning "cocktail made from vodka and orange juice" is recorded from 1956. (Screwed/screwy had a sense of "drunk" since 19c.).

scribble (v.) --- c.1465, from M.L. scribillare, dim. of L. scribere "to write" (see script). The noun is from 1577. Scribbler "petty author" is from 1553.

scribe --- 1377, from L.L. scriba "teacher of Jewish law," used in Vulgate to render Gk. grammateus, corresponding to Heb. sopher "writer, scholar." In secular L., scriba meant "keeper of accounts, secretary" (from scribere "to write;" see script). It recovered this sense in Eng. 16c.

scrim --- upholstery lining, 1792, of unknown origin.

scrimmage --- c.1470, alteration of skirmish (q.v.). The verb is recorded from 1825. Meaning in rugby and U.S. football dates from 1857, originally "a confused struggle between players."

scrimp --- to make too small, 1774, originally an adj., "scant, meager" (1718), possibly from a Scand. source (cf. Swed. skrumpna "to shrink, shrivel up"), or from a continental Gmc. source akin to M.H.G. schrimpfen, Ger. schrumpfen "to shrivel" (cf. shrimp).

scrimshaw --- 1864, back-formation from scrimshander ("Moby Dick," 1851), scrimshonting (1825), Amer.Eng. nautical word, of unknown origin. Scrimshaw is an Eng. surname, attested from 1154, from O.Fr. escremisseor "fencing-master."

scrip --- a certificate of a right to receive something (esp. a stock share), 1762, probably shortened from (sub)scrip(tion) receipt. Originally "receipt for a portion of a loan subscribed," meaning "certificate issued as currency" first recorded 1790.

script --- c.1374, "something written," from O.Fr. escrit (Fr. écrit) "a writing, written paper," from L. scriptum "a writing, book, law, line, mark," noun use of neut. pp. of scribere "to write," from PIE *skreibh- (cf. Gk. skariphasthai "to scratch an outline, sketch," Lett. skripat "scratch, write," O.N. hrifa "scratch"), from base *sker- "cut, incise" (cf. O.E. sceran "cut off, shear;" see shear) on the notion of carving marks in stone, wood, etc. Meaning "handwriting" is recorded from 1860. Theatrical use, short for manuscript, is attested from 1897. The importance of Rome to the spread of civilization in Europe is attested by the fact that the word for "write" in Romance, Celtic and Gmc. languages derives from scribere (e.g. Fr. écrire, Ir. scriobhaim, Welsh ysgrifennu, Ger. schreiben), but the cognate O.E. scrifan means "to allot, assign, decree" (see shrive; also cf. O.N. skript "penance") and Mod.Eng. uses write (q.v.) to express this action.

scripture --- c.1300, "a writing, an act of writing," esp. "the sacred writings of the Bible," from L.L. scriptura "the writings contained in the Bible, a passage from the Bible," from L. scriptura "a writing, character, inscription," from scriptus, pp. of scribere "write" (see script).

scritch --- see screech.

scrivener --- professional penman, copyist, c.1375, from scrivein "scribe" (c.1300), from O.Fr. escrivain "a writer, notary, clerk," from V.L. *scribanem, acc. of scriba "a scribe," from scribere (see script).

scrod --- 1841, "young cod, split and fried or boiled," possibly from Du. schrood "piece cut off," from M.Du. scrode "shred" (cf. O.E. screade, see shred). If this is the origin, the notion is probably of fish cut into pieces for drying or cooking.

scrofula --- c.1400, scrophulas (pl.) from L.L. scrofulæ (pl.) "swelling of the glands of the neck," lit. "little pigs," from L. scrofa "breeding sow." The connection may be because the glands associated with the disease resemble the body of a sow, or because pigs were thought to be prone to it. Cf. Gk. khoirades (pl.) "scrofula," related to khoiros "young pig."

scroggy --- stunted, c.1440, from scrog "a stunted bush" (c.1400), probably a variant of scrag "a lean person or thing" (1574); cf. scraggly.

scroll (n.) --- 1405, "roll of parchment or paper," altered (by association with rolle "roll") from scrowe (c.1225), from Anglo-Fr. escrowe, O.Fr. escroe "scrap, roll of parchment," from Frank. *skroda "shred" (cf. M.Du. schroode "shred," O.H.G. scrot "piece cut off," Ger. Schrot "log, block, small shot"), from P.Gmc. *skrautha "something cut." The verb meaning "to write down in a scroll" is recorded from 1606; sense of "show a few lines at a time" (on a computer or TV screen) first recorded 1981.

scrooge --- generic for "miser," 1940, from curmudgeonly character in Dickens' 1843 story "A Christmas Carol." It does not appear to be a genuine Eng. surname.

scrotum --- 1597, from L. scrotum, cognate with O.E. scrud "garment" (source of shroud).

scrounge --- to acquire by irregular means, 1915, alteration of dialectal scrunge "to search stealthily, rummage, pilfer" (1909), of uncertain origin, perhaps from dial. scringe "to pry about." Popularized by the military in World War I. Perhaps related to scrouge, scrooge "push, jostle" (1755, Cockney slang for "a crowd"), probably suggestive of screw, squeeze.

scrub (n.) --- brush, shrubs, 1398, "low, stunted tree," variant of shrobbe (see shrub), perhaps infl. by a Scand. word (cf. Dan. dial. skrub "a stunted tree, brushwood"). Collective sense is attested from 1805. Transferred sense of "mean, insignificant fellow" is from 1589; U.S. sports meaning "athlete not on the varsity team" is recorded from 1892.

scrub (v.) --- rub hard, c.1300, perhaps from M.Du. or M.L.G. schrubben "to scrub," or from an unrecorded O.E. cognate, or from a Scand. source (cf. Dan. skrubbe "to scrub"), probably ult. from some cognate of shrub, used as a cleaning tool (cf. the evolution of broom, brush). Meaning "to cancel" is attested from 1828 (popularized during World War II with ref. to flights), probably from notion of "to rub out, erase." The noun is recorded from 1621.

scruff --- nape of the neck, 1790, altered (by influence of scruff "crust") from scuft (1787), probably related to N.Fris. skuft "back of the neck of a horse" and Du. schoft "withers of a horse," from a common Gmc. source (cf. O.N. skopt "hair of the head," Goth. skuft, M.H.G. schopf, Ger. Schopf).

scruffy --- 1660, from scruff "dandruff, scurf" (late O.E.), variant of scurf (q.v.). Generalized sense of "rough and dirty" is from 1871.

scrum --- 1888, abbreviation of scrummage, a variant form of scrimmage (q.v.).

scrumptious --- 1836, probably a colloquial alteration of sumptuous (q.v.). Originally "stylish, splendid;" sense of "delicious" is from 1881.

scrunch --- 1825, "to bite," intensive form of crunch. Meaning "to squeeze" is recorded from 1884.

scruple (n.) --- 1526, from O.Fr. scrupule (14c.), from L. scrupulus "uneasiness, anxiety, pricking of conscience," lit. "small sharp stone," dim. of scrupus "sharp stone or pebble," used figuratively by Cicero for a cause of uneasiness or anxiety, probably from the notion of having a pebble in one's shoe. The verb meaning "to have or make scruples" is attested from 1627. Scrupulous is first recorded 1443, from L. scrupulosus. A more literal L. sense of "small unit of weight or measurement" is attested in Eng. from 1382.

scrutiny --- 1415, "a vote to choose someone to decide a question," from L.L. scrutinium "a search, inquiry," from L. scrutari "to examine, search" (as through trash), from scruta (pl.) "trash, rags." Meaning "close examination" first recorded 1604.

scuba --- 1952, acronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.

scud (v.) --- to move quickly, 1532, perhaps a variant of M.E. scut "rabbit, rabbit's tail," in reference to its movements, perhaps from O.N. skjota "to throw, shoot" (cf. Norw. skudda "to shove, push"), but there are phonetic difficulties. Perhaps rather from a N.Sea Gmc. source akin to M.L.G., M.Du. schudden "to shake." The noun meaning "type of ballistic missile" is the NATO reporting name for a type of Soviet missile introduced in the 1960s.

scuff (v.) --- 1768, from Scottish, probably from a Scand. source related to O.N. skufa, skyfa "to shove." Scuffle (1579) is probably a frequentative form, also of Scand. origin.

scull (n.) --- kind of oar, 1345, of unknown origin. The verb is from 1624.

scullery --- c.1330, "household department concerned with the care of kitchen utensils," from O.Fr. escuelerie "office of the servant in charge of plates, etc.," from escuelier "keeper of the dishes," from escuelle "dish," from L. scutella "serving platter, silver" (see scuttle (n.)).

scullion --- low-ranking domestic servant who performs menial kitchen tasks, 1483, perhaps from M.Fr. escouillon "a swab, cloth," dim. of escouve "broom, twig," from L. scopa (pl. scopæ) "broom," related to scapus "shaft, stem." Or an alteration of O.Fr. souillon "scullion," by infl. of scullery.

sculpt --- 1864, from Fr. sculpter, from L. sculpt-, pp. stem of sculpere "to carve." The older verb form was sculpture (1645).

sculpture --- 1390, from L. sculptura "sculpture," from pp. stem of sculpere "to carve, engrave," back-formation from compounds such as exculpere, from scalpere "to carve, cut," from PIE base *(s)kel- "to cut, cleave." Sculptor is first recorded 1634, from L. sculptor, from sculpere.

scum --- 1326 (implied in scummer "shallow ladle for removing scum"), from M.Du. schume "foam, froth," from P.Gmc. *skuma- (cf. O.N. skum, O.H.G. scum, Ger. Schaum "foam, froth"), perhaps from PIE base *(s)keu- "to cover, conceal" (see hide (n.1)). Sense deteriorated from "thin layer atop liquid" to "film of dirt," then just "dirt." Meaning "lowest class of humanity" is 1586; scum of the Earth is from 1712. Adopted in Romanic, cf. O.Fr. escume, Mod.Fr. écume, Sp. escuma, It. schiuma. Adj. scummy first attested 1577; transf. sense of "filthy, disreputable" is recorded from 1932. Slang scumbag "condom" is from 1967; meaning "despicable person" is from 1971.

scupper --- opening in a ship's side at deck level, 1485, perhaps from O.Fr. escopir "to spit out," or related to Du. schop "shovel," or from M.E. scope "scoop" (see scoop).

scuppernong --- cultivated muscadine grape vine, 1811, from name of a river in North Carolina, U.S., probably from some Amer.Ind. word.

scurf --- late O.E. sceorf, from P.Gmc. *skurf- (cf. Dan. skurv, M.Du. scorf, Du. schurft, O.H.G. scorf, Ger. Schorf "scurf"), probably from the same root as O.E. sceorfan "to gnaw," scearfian "to cut into shreds."

scurrilous --- using such language as only the licence of a buffoon can warrant [Johnson], 1576, from scurrile "coarsely joking" (1508, implied in scurrility), from L. scurrilis "buffoonlike," from scurra "fashionable city idler," later "buffoon." According to Klein, "an Etruscan loan-word."

scurry (v.) --- 1810, perhaps from hurry-scurry (1732), a reduplication of hurry.

scurvy --- c.1565, noun use of adj. scurvy (c.1425), variant of scurfy (see scurf). It took on the meaning of Du. scheurbuik, Fr. scorbut "scurvy," the disease characterized by swollen and bleeding gums, prostration, etc., perhaps from O.N. skyrbjugr, perhaps lit. "a swelling (bjugr) from drinking sour milk (skyr) on long sea voyages;" but O.E.D. has alternate etymology of M.Du. or M.L.G. origin, as "disease that lacerates the belly," from schoren "to lacerate" + M.L.G. buk, Du. buik "belly."

scuse (v.) --- aphetic form of excuse, attested from 1491.

scuttle (n.) --- bucket, O.E. scutel "dish, platter," from L. scutella "serving platter," dim. of scutra "flat tray, dish," perhaps related to scutum "shield" (see hide (n.1)). A common Gmc. borrowing from Latin (cf. O.N. skutill, M.Du. schotel, O.H.G. scuzzila, Ger. Schüssel). Meaning "basket for sifting grain" is attested from 1366; sense of "bucket for holding coal" first recorded 1849.

scuttle (v.1) --- scamper, scurry, c.1450, probably related to scud (q.v.).

scuttle (v.2) --- cut a hole in a ship to sink it, 1642, from skottell (n.) "opening in a ship's deck" (1497), from M.Fr. escoutille (Mod.Fr. écoutille), from Sp. escotilla "hatchway," dim. of escota "opening in a garment," from escotar "cut out," perhaps from e- "out" + Gmc. *skaut-. Fig. use is recorded from 1888.

scuttlebutt --- 1805, "water cask kept on a ship's deck," from scuttle "opening in a ship's deck" (see scuttle (v.2)) + butt "barrel." Earlier scuttle cask (1777). Meaning "rumor, gossip" first recorded 1901, originally nautical slang, traditionally said to be from sailors' custom of gathering around the scuttlebutt to gossip.

scuzzy --- 1968, N.Amer. colloquial, perhaps a blend of scummy and fuzzy. First attested use is in ref. to Ratso Rizzo in "Midnight Cowboy."

scythe --- O.E. siðe, sigði, from P.Gmc. *segithoz (cf. M.L.G. segede, M.Du. sichte, O.H.G. segensa, Ger. Sense), from PIE base *sek- "cut" (see section). The sc- spelling crept in early 15c., from influence of L. scissor "carver, cutter" and scindere "to cut." The verb is from 1597.

Scythian --- 1543, from L. Scythia, from Gk. Skythia "ancient region along the north coast of the Black Sea," from Skythes "a Scythian."

sea --- O.E. sæ "sheet of water, sea, lake," from P.Gmc. *saiwaz (cf. O.S. seo, O.Fris. se, M.Du. see), of unknown origin, outside connections "wholly doubtful" (Buck). Gmc. languages also use the general IE word (represented by Eng. mere), but have no firm distinction between "sea" and "lake," either by size or by salt vs. fresh. This may reflect the Baltic geography where the languages are thought to have originated. The two words are used more or less interchangeably, and exist in opposite senses (e.g. Goth. saiws "lake," marei "sea;" but Du. zee "sea," meer "lake"). Cf. also O.N. sær "sea," but Dan. sø, usually "lake" but "sea" in phrases. Ger. See is "sea" (fem.) or "lake" (masc.). Meaning "dark area of the moon's surface" is attested from 1667 (see mare (2)). Phrase sea change "transformation" is attested from 1610, first in Shakespeare ("The Tempest," I.ii). Sea legs is from 1712; sea serpent attested from 1646; sea level first recorded 1806. At sea in the fig. sense of "perplexed" is attested from 1768, from lit. sense of "out of sight of land."

sea monkey --- 1909 as a heraldic animal, 1964 as a U.S. prop. name for brine shrimp (Artemia salina), which had been used as food for aquarium fish till they began to be marketed as pets by U.S. inventor Harold von Braunhut (d.2003), who also invented "X-Ray Specs" and popularized pet hermit crabs. He began marketing them in comic book advertisements in 1960 as "Instant Life," and changed the name to Sea Monkeys in 1964, so called for their long tails.

Seabee --- 1942, from pronunciation of C.B., abbreviation of Construction Battalion, formed as a volunteer branch of the Civil Engineer Corps of the U.S. Navy.

seacoal --- old name for "mineral coal" (as opposed to charcoal), c.1253; earlier in O.E., "jet," which chiefly was found washed ashore by the sea. The coal perhaps so called from resemblance to this, or because it was first dug from beds exposed by wave erosion.

sea-dog --- 1598, "harbor seal," from sea + dog. Meaning "old sailor" is attested from 1840.

seafaring --- c.1200, from sea + faring (see fare (v.)).

seafood --- food obtained from the sea, 1836, Amer.Eng., from sea + food.

seagull --- 1542, from sea + gull (q.v.).

sea-horse --- 1475, "Walrus," from sea + horse (see walrus). Main modern sense is attested from 1589.

seal (n.1) --- design stamped on wax, c.1230, from O.Fr. seel (Fr. sceau), from V.L. *sigellum (cf. It. suggello, Sp. sello, also O.Fris., M.H.G. sigel, Ger. Siegel), from L. sigillum "small picture, engraved figure, seal," dim. of signum "mark, token" (see sign). An earlier borrowing directly from L. is represented by O.E. insigel. Sealing-wax is attested from c.1300. Seal point "dark brown marking on a Siamese cat" is recorded from 1934.

seal (n.2) --- mammal with flippers, O.E. seolh "seal," from P.Gmc. *selkhaz (cf. O.N. selr, Swed. sjöl, M.L.G. sel, M.Du. seel, O.H.G. selah), of unknown origin, perhaps a borrowing from Finnic.

seal (v.) --- to fasten with (or as with) a seal, c.1225, from seal (n.1). Meaning "to place a seal on (a document)" is recorded from 1338; sense of "to close up with wax, lead, cement, etc." is attested from 1661, from the notion of wax seals on envelopes. To seal one's fate (1810) probably reflects the notion of a seal on an execution warrant.

sea-lion --- 1601, "kind of lobster," from sea + lion. Later "a fabulous animal" (in heraldry, etc.), 1661. Applied from 1697 to various species of large eared seals. As code name for the planned Ger. invasion of Britain, it translates Ger. Seelöwe, announced by Hitler July 1940, scrubbed October 1940.

seam --- O.E. seam, from P.Gmc. *saumaz (cf. O.N. saumr, O.H.G. soum, Ger. Saum), from PIE base *siw-/*sju- "to sew" (cf. O.E. siwian, L. suere, Skt. syuman; see sew).

seaman --- a sailor, O.E. sæmanna (pl.), from sea + man. Cf. Du. zeeman, Ger. Seemann, O.N. sjomaðr.

seamstress --- 1644, from O.E. seamestre "person whose work is sewing," from seam (see seam). Originally indicating a woman, but the fem. ending -estre no longer felt as such in M.E. and a new one added.

seamy --- 1604, in fig. phrase seamy side "least pleasant, worst," from seam (q.v.), the seamy side of a sewn garment being the less attractive, and thus typically turned in. The popularity of the fig. sense likely is due to its use by Shakespeare in "Othello" IV.ii.146: "Some such Squire he was That turn'd your wits the seamy-side without, And made you to suspect me with the Moore."

seance --- 1789, "sitting, session," as of a learned society, from Fr. séance "a sitting," from seoir "to sit," from L. sedere (see sit). Meaning "spiritualistic session" first recorded 1845.

seaplane --- 1913, from sea + plane.

sear (v.) --- O.E. searian "dry up, to whither," from P.Gmc. *saurajan, from root of sear "dried up, withered" (see sere). Meaning "to brand, to burn by hot iron" is recorded from 1530; fig. use is from 1582.

search (v.) --- c.1330, from O.Fr. cerchier "to search," from L. circare "go about, wander, traverse," from circus "circle." The noun is first recorded c.1400. Phrase search me as a verbal shrug of ignorance first recorded 1901. Search warrant first attested 1739. Search-light recorded from 1883.

seashell --- O.E. sæscel (see sea and shell).

seashore --- 1526, from sea + shore. Commonly defined in law as the ground between the ordinary high and low water-marks.

seasick --- 1566, from sea + sick (q.v.).

season (n.) --- c.1300, "a period of the year," with ref. to weather or work, from O.Fr. seison (Mod.Fr. saison) "a sowing, planting," from L. sationem (nom. satio) "a sowing," from pp. stem of serere "to sow" (see sow). Sense shifted in V.L. from "act of sowing" to "time of sowing." In O.Fr. and O.Prov. this was extended to "season" in general (sowing season being the most important). Seasonable is first recorded c.1380. Season ticket is attested from 1820.

season (v.) --- improve the flavor of by adding spices, c.1300, from O.Fr. assaisoner "to ripen, season," from root of season (n.) on the notion of fruit becoming more palatable as it ripens. Applied to timber by 1540. In 16c., it also meant "to copulate with." Seasoning (n.) is from 1580.

seat (1) --- thing to sit on, act of sitting, c.1200, from O.N. sæti "seat, position," from P.Gmc. *sæt- (cf. O.H.G. saze, M.Du. gesaete "seat," O.H.G. gisazi, Ger. Gesäß "buttocks"), from PIE base *sed- "to sit" (see sit). The verb is from 1577. Meaning "posterior of the body" (the sitting part) is from 1607; sense of "part of a garment which covers the buttocks" is from 1835. Seat belt is from 1932, originally in airplanes.