'silverware' originates from the combination of 'silver' and 'ware', where 'silver' refers to the precious metal and 'ware' refers to manufactured articles.

'silverware' evolved from the Old English word 'seolfor' for silver and 'waru' for goods, eventually becoming the modern English word 'silverware'.

Initially, it referred to any goods made of silver, but over time it evolved to specifically mean table utensils.