c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. weyver "to abandon, waive," O.Fr. weyver, guever "to abandon, give back," probably from a Scand. source akin to O.N. veifa "to swing about," from P.Gmc. *waibijanan (see
waif). In M.E. legal language, used of rights, goods, or women. Waiver "act of waiving"