'araby' originates from Middle English, influenced by Old French 'Arabie' and Latin 'Arabia', ultimately from Greek 'Arabia' and Semitic root 'Arab' referring to the Arabs or their land.

'araby' developed as a poetic or archaic form in Middle English from Old French 'Arabie', which in turn came from Latin 'Arabia' and Greek 'Arabia' derived from Semitic sources; over time it remained as a literary/poetic name rather than the regular modern form 'Arabia'.

Initially it referred straightforwardly to 'the land of the Arabs' or 'Arabia'; over time it became chiefly literary or archaic, often used to evoke exotic or romantic images rather than as the standard geographic name.