'artillerist' originates from English, specifically the word 'artillery' plus the agent suffix '-ist', where the suffix '-ist' meant 'an agent or person associated with'.

'artillery' came into English from Old French 'artillerie' (Medieval Latin 'artillaria'), originally referring to war matériel and equipment; English 'artillery' then gave rise to the agent noun 'artillerist' to denote a person serving with artillery.

Initially the related word 'artillery' meant 'military equipment or engines of war', but over time it evolved to mean the branch of the military using large firearms; 'artillerist' came to mean 'a soldier who operates such weapons.'