'apprentice' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'aprentis', where the related verb (from Old French 'aprendre') derived from Latin 'apprehendere' meaning 'to take, to grasp' (in the sense of 'to learn').

'apprentice' changed from Old French 'aprentis' into Middle English 'aprentis' and eventually became the modern English word 'apprentice'.

Initially it meant 'a person taken on to learn a trade' (one who is 'taken to learn') and over time this core meaning has remained largely the same in modern usage.