Английский Этимологический словарь - exploit (n.)

- c.1300, from O.Fr. esploit, a very common v., used in senses of "action, deed, profit, achievement," from L. explicitum "a thing settled, ended, displayed," neut. of explicitus, pp. of explicare "unfold" (see explicit). Sense evolution is from "unfolding" to "bringing out" to "having advantage" to "achievement." The v. (M.E. espleiten, esploiten) meant "to accomplish;" the sense of "use selfishly" first arising 1838, as an adoption of Fr. exploiter.