'alexandrine' originates from French, specifically the word 'alexandrin,' which was used in the 12th century to describe a type of verse used in the 'Roman d'Alexandre,' a medieval French poem about Alexander the Great.

'alexandrin' transformed into the English word 'alexandrine' during the 16th century, maintaining its association with a specific poetic meter.

Initially, it referred to a specific type of verse used in medieval French poetry, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.