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

'aquamanile' passed from Medieval Latin into Middle English as 'aquamanile' and was used in medieval contexts to denote such hand-washing vessels.

Initially it meant 'a vessel for washing hands'; over time the term has become mainly an art-historical and archaeological designation for surviving medieval examples.