Word origin
[1755–65; ‹ L
āvulsus, ptp. of
āvellere to pluck off, tear away, equiv. to
ā- a-4 +
vul-, ptp. s. of
vellere to forcibly pull, pluck +
-sus, var. of
-tus ptp. suffix
]This word is first recorded in the period 1755–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: affiliate, avalanche, capitalize, lame duck, outfit