'allicampane' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'inula helenium', where 'inula' referred to a type of plant and 'helenium' was associated with Helen of Troy.

'inula helenium' transformed into the Old French word 'allicampane', and eventually became the modern English word 'allicampane'.

Initially, it referred to a specific plant used for healing, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.