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Today it means

grab

to grasp or seize suddenly and roughly

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Where does the word "grab" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch grabben, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).

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Where does the word "grab" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch grabben, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).

Grab’s story begins in Middle Dutch: grabben meant “to seize.” Related to 'grip', 'grope' and 'grasp'. It reached English by 1580s as grab. Probably came through North Sea trade; 'up for grabs' is 1920s American slang. Today, grab means to grasp or seize suddenly and roughly.

  1. Stage 1 · Middle Dutch · medieval grabben "to seize", related to 'grip', 'grope' and 'grasp'.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1580s grab "to seize suddenly", probably came through North Sea trade; 'up for grabs' is 1920s American slang.

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