1690s, originally an art criticism term, "assemblage of figures or objects in a painting or design," from French groupe "cluster, group" (17c.), from Italian gruppo "group, knot," perhaps ultimately from Proto-Germanic *kruppaz "round mass, lump," and related to crop. Extended to "any assemblage" by 1736. Meaning "pop music combo" is from 1958.

1718 (transitive), 1801 (intransitive), from group, n.. Related: Grouped; grouping.