'alkitran' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'al-qitrān', where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'qitrān' meant 'tar'.

'al-qitrān' transformed into the Spanish word 'alquitrán', and eventually became the modern English word 'alkitran'.

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