salvaged

Salvaged is the past participle of salvage and is used as an adjective to describe property, materials, or assets that have been rescued from danger, damage, or loss. It can also refer to the act of rescuing itself. In everyday usage, salvaged items are typically recovered for reuse, repair, or resale rather than discarded. The term is applied in contexts ranging from maritime operations to construction and archaeology.

In maritime practice, salvage denotes the lawful rescue of a ship or its cargo from peril. Salvage operations may yield a reward to the salvors, determined by factors such as success, skill, and risk, and are governed by maritime law. In insurance, salvage can refer to damaged property that is retained by the insurer and offered for sale to recover part of the payout. Salvage rights and procedures vary by jurisdiction.

Salvaged materials are widely used in sustainable building, design, and restoration. Reclaimed wood, brick, metal, and fixtures salvaged from demolished structures or decommissioned equipment are valued for durability and environmental reasons. In archaeology, salvage archaeology documents and preserves artifacts that would be lost during construction or development.

Etymologically, salvage derives from Old French salvage or sauver, from Latin salvare, meaning to save or rescue. The term emphasizes saving value rather than disposal.