c.1300, from O.Fr.
sauvete, earlier
salvetet (11c.), from M.L.
salvitatem (nom.
salvitas) "safety," from L.
salvus (see
safe). Meaning "trigger-lock on a gun" is attested from 1881. As a N.Amer. football position, first recorded 1881.
Safety-pin is from 1857;
safety-valve is from 1797; fig. sense recorded from 1818.
Safety-net first recorded 1950.
Safety-first as an accident-prevention slogan first used in Britain in 1873 (said to be originally from U.S. railroads); widely used on Conservative Party election posters in 1922.