PARA-355-Dumpster-Diving: Dylan

Caretaker Status: Unknown

 

Affiliated companion(s): none

Word: Dumpster Diving

 

Origin: 
Combination term- from dump(ster) and dive.

1930s, from Dempster-Dumpster trash-hauling mechanism, patented by Dempster Brothers and probably named from dump (v.) with the surname in mind. Dumpster diving attested from 1979.. The surname (late 13c.) is a fem. form (but, like Baxter, probably used also of men) of Deemer, a North of England and Manx term for "a judge;" see deem (v.).

C 1200, diven, "descend or plunge headfirst into water," from a merger of Old English dufan "to dive, duck, sink" (intransitive, class II strong verb; past tense deaf, past participle dofen) and dyfan "to dip, submerge" (weak, transitive), from Proto-Germanic verb *dubijan, from PIE *dheub- "deep, hollow" (see deep (adj.)).

 

Definition: 
To search through dumpsters or similar trash receptacles for edible food or items of value.