Английский Этимологический словарь - save (v.)

- 12c., from O.Fr. sauver, from L.L. salvare "make safe, secure," from L. salvus "safe." The theological sense was in M.E. The noun, in the sports sense of "act of preventing opponent from scoring," first recorded 1890. Meaning "store up" is from c.1303; savings "money hoarded up" is from 1737; savings bank is 1817. Save face (late 19c.) is said to be from Chinese (cf. tiu lien "to lose face").