"youth, lad, boy of the lower orders," c.1300, originally also "youth preparing to be a knight," from O.Fr.
page, possibly via It.
paggio, from M.L.
pagius "servant," perhaps ult. from Gk.
paidion "boy, lad," dim. of
pais (gen.
paidos) "child;" but some sources consider this unlikely and suggest instead L.
pagus "countryside," in sense of "boy from the rural regions" (see
pagan). Meaning "youth employed as a personal attendant to a person of rank" is first recorded c.1460; this was transf. from late 18c. to boys who did personal errands in hotels, clubs, etc., also in U.S. legislatures. The verb (1904) is from the notion of "to send a page after" someone.
Pager "device that emits a signal when activated by a telephone call" is first attested 1968.