- margin
- mid-14c., "space between a block of text and the edge of a page," from L. margo (gen. marginis) "edge," from PIE *mereg- "edge, boundary" (see mark (1)). General sense of "boundary space" is from late 14c. Meaning "comfort allowance, cushion" is from 1851; margin of safety first recorded 1888. Stock market sense of "sum deposited with a broker to cover risk of loss" is from 1848. Marginal (1570s) originally meant "written on the margin," from M.L. marginalis, from L. margo; sense of "of little effect or importance" first recorded 1887.