'arpeggiation' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'arpeggiare', where 'arpa' meant 'harp' (the root relating to the harp) and the verbal form indicated action related to playing.

'arpeggiare' in Italian gave rise to the noun 'arpeggio' (a passage played like on a harp); English borrowed the verb form as 'arpeggiate', and the abstract noun 'arpeggiation' was later formed in English from that verb.

Initially connected with 'playing on a harp' or producing harp-like passages, the term evolved to the broader modern sense of 'playing the notes of a chord in succession (a broken chord)', applicable to many instruments.