'amylon' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἄμυλον', where 'a-' meant 'not' and 'mylon' meant 'ground' or 'milled'.

'ἄμυλον' was adopted into Latin as 'amylum', and eventually became the modern English word 'amylon'.

Initially, it meant 'not ground', referring to the raw form of starch, and over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a type of starch'.