'arraigner' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'araignier' (or Anglo-French variants), where the root was used for calling to account or summoning.

'arraigner' changed from Middle English forms such as 'arraignen' / 'areinen' (used as verb 'arraign' and nominalized in English) and eventually became the modern English noun 'arraigner'.

Initially, it meant 'to call to account' or 'to summon to court,' and over time it remained closely tied to that legal sense, producing the noun meaning 'one who arraigns' (and occasionally 'one who is arraigned').