1837, "article of food," from French comestible (14c.), from Late Latin comestibilis, from Latin comestus, past participle of comedere "eat up, consume," from com "with, together," here "thoroughly" (see com-) + edere "to eat" (from PIE root *ed- "to eat"). It was attested earlier as an adjective meaning "fit to eat" but this seems to have fallen from use 17c., and the word was reintroduced from French as a noun.
