the word 'squander' first appeared in english in the late 16th century. its exact origins are obscure, but it is thought to be related to the now-obsolete english word 'scatter', or perhaps influenced by the dialectal word 'squatter' meaning 'to splash or scatter'. the core idea linking these possibilities is one of dispersal and wastefulness. over time, 'squander' solidified its meaning specifically to describe the wasteful and extravagant dissipation of resources, moving from a physical sense of scattering to an abstract economic and moral concept.

this word is considered a simplex form. its origin is uncertain, but it is likely an alteration or expansion of an earlier english dialect word.