'arditi' originates from Italian, specifically the masculine singular noun 'ardito' (plural 'arditi'), derived from the verb 'ardire' meaning 'to dare'.

'ardito' comes from Italian 'ardire' (to dare), which ultimately traces to Latin roots such as 'ardēre' (to burn). The term 'Arditi' was adopted into English and other languages as the name for the Italian WWI storm troops.

Initially associated with the adjective/verb sense of 'daring' or 'to dare', the term evolved into a proper name for Italy's elite assault units in World War I and is now chiefly used to refer to those troops or, figuratively, to daring people.