- ruin (n.)
- late 14c., "act of giving way and falling down," from Old French ruine, from Latin ruina "a collapse" (cf. Spanish ruina, Italian rovina), related to ruere "to rush, fall violently, collapse," of unknown origin. Meaning "complete destruction of anything" is from 1670s. Ruins "remains of a decayed building or town" is from mid-15c.
- ruin (v.)
- 1580s, from ruin (n.). Financial sense is attested from 1660. Related: Ruined; ruining.