'anguille' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'anguilla', where 'anguis' meant 'snake' (and 'anguilla' is its diminutive, meaning 'little snake, eel').

'anguilla' transformed through Old French as 'anguile/anguille' and eventually became the modern French word 'anguille', which was later borrowed into English in culinary contexts.

Initially, it meant 'eel', and this meaning has remained the same in modern usage.