'aquatintist' originates from English, specifically formed from the word 'aquatint' plus the suffix '-ist', where 'aquatint' comes from French 'aquatinte' or Italian 'acquatinta' (from 'acqua' meaning 'water' and 'tinta' meaning 'tint' or 'dyed').

'aquatint' changed from Italian 'acquatinta' and French 'aquatinte' into the English word 'aquatint'; the agent noun 'aquatintist' was later formed in English by adding the suffix '-ist' to denote a practitioner.

Initially related to the phrase 'watered tint' (referring to the tonal effect), it evolved to name the specific printmaking technique 'aquatint' and, by extension, a practitioner 'aquatintist' meaning 'one who practices aquatint.'