'arcato' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'arcato,' where 'arco' meant 'bow' (the instrument used to sound stringed instruments).

'arcato' is borrowed from Italian musical terminology; Italian 'arco' derives from Latin 'arcus' meaning 'bow' or 'arch', and the Italian adjective 'arcato' became an instruction in musical notation and was adopted into English usage unchanged.

Initially related to the idea of 'arched' or 'of the bow,' it evolved into the specific musical instruction meaning 'to play with the bow' in modern usage.