'alluviation' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'alluviatio', where 'ad-' meant 'toward' and 'luvius' meant 'washing'.

'alluviatio' transformed into the French word 'alluvion', and eventually became the modern English word 'alluviation' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'the act of washing towards', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'deposition of sediment by water'.