'alkaloid' originates from the Arabic word 'al-qalī,' meaning 'ashes of plants,' combined with the suffix '-oid,' indicating resemblance.

'alkaloid' was derived from the German word 'Alkaloid,' which was coined in the early 19th century to describe plant-derived compounds.

Initially, it referred to plant-derived compounds with basic properties, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.