'arriesgar' originates from Spanish, formed with the prefix 'a-' plus the noun 'riesgo' (meaning 'risk' or 'danger').

'arriesgar' developed from Old Spanish 'arriescar', which itself is related to Romance verbs such as Italian 'rischiare' and Spanish noun 'riesgo' derived from Vulgar Latin/Italian roots referring to 'danger' ('riscum'/'rischio' in later Romance).

Initially it meant 'to expose to danger' or 'to put in peril,' and over time it has kept that core sense while broadening to mean 'to take a chance' or 'to risk doing something.'