'rebate' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'rebatre' (or 'rebattre'), where the prefix 're-' meant 'back' and 'battre' (from Latin 'battuere') meant 'to beat'.

'rebate' changed from Old French 'rebatre'/'rebattre' (meaning to beat down) into Middle English and later became the modern English word 'rebate', shifting in form and sense to refer to a reduction or refund.

Initially, it meant 'to beat down' or 'a beating down' (i.e., reduce by force), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a reduction or partial repayment (refund)'.