'annicut' originates from Tamil, specifically the word 'anaikattu' (often seen as 'anai kattu'), where 'anai' meant 'dam' and 'kattu' meant 'to build'.

'annicut' changed from the Tamil word 'anaikattu' and entered English during colonial contact in South India, appearing in English as 'anicut' and later in variant spelling 'annicut'.

Initially it meant 'a constructed dam' in the original Tamil sense, but over time it has come to refer more specifically to 'a low dam or weir used for irrigation and water diversion'.