'alforja' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'al-khurj', where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'khurj' meant 'sack or bag'.

'al-khurj' transformed into the Spanish word 'alforja', and eventually became the modern English word 'alforja'.

Initially, it meant 'a sack or bag for carrying goods', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.