'argent' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'argent', where 'argent' meant 'silver'.

'argent' ultimately comes from Latin 'argentum'; Old French 'argent' passed into Middle English as 'argent' and became the modern English word 'argent'.

Initially, it meant 'silver' (the metal) and this sense persisted into English; in heraldry it also came to denote the tincture (silver shown as white).