'anisole' originates from French, specifically the word 'anisole', where 'anis-' (from Latin 'anisum', Greek 'anison') meant 'anise' and the suffix '-ole' was used in chemical naming to form names of organic compounds.

'anisole' changed from Latin 'anisum' (and Greek 'anison') into French 'anisole' and eventually entered English as the modern chemical name 'anisole'.

Initially it referred to substances related to the oil of anise; over time it evolved into the specific chemical name for methoxybenzene (and, in plural, related methoxy-substituted benzenes).