'alforge' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'alforja', where 'al-' is an Arabic prefix meaning 'the' and 'forja' meant 'saddlebag'.

'alforja' transformed into the Portuguese word 'alforge', and eventually became the modern English word 'alforge'.

Initially, it meant 'saddlebag', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.