'ashtray' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'ash' and 'tray', where 'ash' meant 'the powdery residue left after burning' and 'tray' meant 'a shallow receptacle'.

'ash' comes from Old English words (e.g. 'æsc' and related forms) referring to ash (and also the ash tree in some senses); 'tray' comes via Middle English from Old French (e.g. 'traie' or similar forms) meaning a shallow dish; the compound 'ashtray' was formed in Modern English as smoking paraphernalia became common (late 19th to early 20th century).

Initially it meant 'a shallow tray for ashes' and its basic meaning has remained the same, coming to refer specifically to devices for cigarette ash and butts.