'almucantar' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'al-muqanṭarāt', where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'muqanṭarāt' referred to 'circles'.

'al-muqanṭarāt' transformed into the medieval Latin word 'almucantarath', and eventually became the modern English word 'almucantar'.

Initially, it meant 'circles', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a circle on the celestial sphere parallel to the horizon'.