Etymology
1. c.1300, from O.Fr.
garniss-, stem of
garnir "provide, furnish, defend," from P.Gmc.
*warnejan "be cautious, guard, provide for" (cf. O.E.
warnian "to take warning, beware;" see warn). Sense evolution is from "arm oneself" to "fit out" to "embellish," which was the earliest meaning in Eng., though the others also were used in M.E. Culinary sense of "to decorate a dish for the table" predominated after 1693. Older meaning survives in legal sense of "warning of attachment of funds" (1585).
2. From Middle English garnysshen, from Old French garniss-, stem of certain forms of the verb garnir, guarnir, warnir (“to provide, furnish, avert, defend, warn, fortify, garnish”), from a conflation of Old Frankish *warnijan (“to refuse, deny”) and *warnōn (“warn, protect, prepare, beware, guard oneself”), from Proto-Germanic *warnijaną (“to worry, care, heed”) and Proto-Germanic *warnōną (“to warn”); both from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to defend, protect, cover”). Cognate with Old English wiernan (“to withhold, be sparing of, deny, refuse, reject, decline, forbid, prevent from, avert”) and warnian (“to warn, caution, take warning, take heed, guard oneself against, deny”). More at warn. See: Middle English '
garnysshen', Old French '
garnir', Proto-Germanic '
*warnōną', Old English '
wiernan'.
Verbs referencing "garnish"
English
garment.