'arriero' originates from Spanish, specifically the word 'arriero', where the root 'arriar' meant 'to drive (animals) or urge on'.

'arriero' developed in Spanish from the verb 'arriar' (Old Spanish 'arriar'/'arriar'), itself related to verbs meaning 'to urge on' or 'to drive', and was borrowed into English as a term for a mule driver or packman.

Initially it referred specifically to someone who drove pack animals; over time in English it has kept that specialized meaning, sometimes used more broadly for a mountain or rural transporter.