'agglutinin' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'agglutinare,' where 'ad-' meant 'to' and 'glutinare' meant 'to glue.'

'agglutinare' transformed into the French word 'agglutiner,' and eventually became the modern English word 'agglutinin' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to glue or stick together,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'substances that cause particles to clump together.'