Origin: 1585–95; < Middle French garbe graceful outline < Old Italian garbo grace < Germanic; compare Old High German garawen,Old English gearwian to prepare, adorn (see gar2), gear
1590s, "elegance, stylishness," from M.Fr. garbe "graceful outline," from It. garbo "grace, elegance," perhaps from Gmc. (cf. O.H.G. gar(a)wi "dress, equipment, preparation;" see gear). Sense of "fashion of dress" is first attested 1620s. The verb is from 1836. Related: Garbed.