Mid 17th century. From Middle French, French matagraboliser from ancient Greek μάταιος vain + Middle French -graboliser from grabeler to sift (1439; later used fig. in sense ‘to examine closely’; from Middle French grabel sieve, perhaps from Catalan garbell or Italian garbello, both from Arabic ġirbāl from post-classical Latin cribellum from classical Latin cribrum sieve + -ellum) + -iser; compare garble.