1664, from Fr. fond "a bottom, floor, ground," also "a merchant's basic stock or capital," from L. fundus "bottom, piece of land," from PIE base *bhu(n)d-, cognate with Skt. budhnah, Gk. pythmen "foundation, bottom," O.E. botm "lowest part" (see bottom). The verb is 1776, from the noun. Funds "money at one's disposal" is from 1728. Fund-raiser first attested 1957.