salvage

Salvage traces back to Old French salver, itself from Late Latin salvare ("to make safe, secure, save"), which in turn comes from Latin salvus ("safe") plus the English suffix -age.

The facts available don't describe a shift in meaning over time beyond this root sense of making or keeping safe.

Salvage shares its root with save, since both come from the same Old French salver. It's also worth noting salvage is an unrelated false friend to Spanish salvaje ("wild") and Tagalog salbahe ("mischievous, naughty"), despite the surface resemblance.