'aquamanile' originates from Medieval Latin, specifically the word 'aquamanile', where 'aqua' meant 'water' and 'manile' derived from Latin 'manus' meaning 'hand'.

'aquamanile' entered English from Medieval Latin 'aquamanile' (possibly via Old French 'aquamanil') and was borrowed into Middle English with the same form, eventually remaining in modern English as 'aquamanile'.

Initially, it referred broadly to a vessel associated with water and the hand (i.e., for washing hands); over time it came to denote specifically the medieval ewer—often animal-shaped—used for handwashing.