'allot' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'aloter', where 'a-' meant 'to' and 'loter' meant 'to divide into lots'.

'aloter' transformed into the Middle English word 'alloten', and eventually became the modern English word 'allot'.

Initially, it meant 'to divide into lots', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to assign or distribute'.