'antepagmenta' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'antepagmentum', where 'ante-' meant 'before' and 'pagmentum' (from 'pango, pangere') referred to something fastened or fixed.

'antepagmentum' was used in Classical and Medieval Latin to denote a fastening or a front fastening; in ecclesiastical and architectural usage the term came to denote a front ornament or frontal, and English scholarly or antiquarian usage preserves the Latin plural 'antepagmenta'.

Initially it meant 'a fastening or fixed piece placed before (something)', but over time it evolved into its current specialized meaning of 'a decorative front piece or frontal attached to a garment, altar, or architectural element'.