'arpeggio' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'arpeggio', where 'arpa' meant 'harp'.

'arpeggio' was borrowed into English from Italian musical terminology (from Italian 'arpeggio', derived from 'arpa' meaning 'harp'), entering English use in the 18th century as a term describing harp-like, broken-chord playing.

Initially it referred to playing 'in the manner of a harp' or a harp-like effect; over time it came to mean the specific musical device of a 'broken chord' or the successive sounding of chord tones.