'anilino' originates from English scientific nomenclature, specifically the word 'aniline' with the combining vowel '-o,' where 'anil-' meant 'indigo' (via Portuguese 'anil' from Arabic 'an-nīl' < Sanskrit 'nīla').

'anilino' formed in modern English from 'aniline' + '-o'; 'aniline' came via French 'aniline' or German 'Anilin' from Portuguese 'anil' (from Arabic 'an-nīl'), ultimately from Sanskrit 'nīla,' and eventually became the modern English term 'anilino.'

Initially, it meant 'of or containing aniline or its residue,' and this technical meaning remains essentially unchanged in modern usage.