early 14c., "action of displaying," from Old French exhibicion, exibicion "show, exhibition, display," from Late Latin exhibitionem (nominative exhibitio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin exhibere "to show, display, present," literally "hold out, hold forth," from ex "out" (see ex-) + habere "to hold" (from PIE root *ghabh- "to give or receive"). Also from early 15c. as "sustenance, food, source of support." Meaning "that which is exhibited" is from 1786.
