'argentine' originates from Medieval Latin and Old French, specifically from Latin 'argentum' meaning 'silver' and Old French 'argentin' meaning 'of silver'.

'argentine' changed from Old French 'argentin' and Middle English forms such as 'argentyne' and eventually became the modern English word 'argentine'. The adjective sense related to Argentina developed later because the country's name, 'Argentina', is derived from the same Latin root meaning 'silver'.

Initially it meant 'made of or resembling silver'; over time it retained that literary sense while also coming to be used for things 'of or relating to Argentina' (from the country's name derived from 'silver').