'amianthus' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἀμίαντος' (amiantos), where 'a-' meant 'not' and 'miantos' meant 'defiled' or 'stained'.

'ἀμίαντος' transformed into the Latin word 'amianthus', and eventually became the modern English word 'amianthus'.

Initially, it meant 'undefiled' or 'pure', referring to its resistance to fire and staining, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.