- rest (n.1)
- "sleep," Old English ræste, reste "rest, bed, intermission of labor, mental peace," from Proto-Germanic *rastjo, *rasto. Original sense seems to be a measure of distance (cf. Old High German rasta "league of miles," Old Norse rost "league, distance after which one rests," Gothic rasta "mile, stage of a journey"), perhaps a word from the nomadic period. The meaning "support, thing upon which something rests" is attested from 1580s. At rest "dead" is from mid-14c. Rest stop is from 1973. Colloquial expression to give (something) a rest "to stop talking about it" is first recorded 1927, American English.
- rest (n.2)
- "remainder," early 15c., from Middle French reste "remnant," from rester "to remain," from Latin restare "stand back, be left," from re- "back" (see re-) + stare "to stand" (see stet). Related Middle English verb resten (mid-15c.) is in rest assured.
- rest (v.)
- Old English ræstan, restan "to rest," from root of rest (n.1). Related: Rested; resting. Phrase rest you merry is from 1540s (God rest you merry, gentlemen, often is mis-punctuated).