- bargain
- early 14c., from O.Fr. bargaignier (12c., Mod.Fr. barguigner) "to haggle over the price," perhaps from Frankish *borganjan "to lend," and ultimately from P.Gmc. *borgan (cf. O.H.G. borgen; O.E. borgian, source of borrow). Another suggestion is that the O.Fr. word comes from L.L. barca "a barge," because it "carries goods to and fro." There are difficulties with both suggestions. A bargain basement (1899) originally was a basement floor in a store where bargains were displayed.