1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Savage

SAVAGE, a word by derivation meaning belonging to the wilds or forests (O. Fr. salvage, mod. sauvage, Late Lat. silvaticus, silva, wood, forest), hence wild, uncultivated, barbarian, and so used of races in an uncivilized or barbarous condition, or of animals or human beings generally, untamed, ferocious.