1580s, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German grabben "to grab," from Proto-Germanic *grab (cognates: Old English græppian "to seize," Old Saxon garva, Old High German garba "sheaf," literally "that which is gathered up together"), from PIE *ghrebh- "to seize, reach" (cognates: Sanskrit grbhnati "seizes," Old Persian grab- "seize" as possession or prisoner, Old Church Slavonic grabiti "to seize, rob," Lithuanian grebiu "to rake"). Sense of "to get by unscrupulous methods" reinforced by grab game, a kind of swindle, attested from 1846. Related: Grabbed; grabbing.

1777, "thing grabbed;" 1824, "act of grabbing," from grab, v.. Up for grabs attested from 1945 in jive talk.