'ape' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'apa', where 'apa' meant 'monkey' or 'ape'.

'ape' changed from Old English 'apa' (and related West Germanic forms) and eventually became the modern English word 'ape'; the verbal sense 'to imitate' arose later by association with the animal's behavior.

Initially, it meant 'monkey' or 'ape', but over time it developed an additional meaning 'to imitate' (often disparagingly) which led to uses like 'aping' for 'imitating'.