'acetylene' originates from French, specifically the word 'acétylène,' where 'acét-' referred to 'acetic acid' and '-ylène' is a suffix used in chemistry to denote unsaturated hydrocarbons.

'acétylène' transformed into the English word 'acetylene' in the 19th century, maintaining its chemical significance.

Initially, it referred to a specific type of gas used in chemical processes, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.