'aspirin' originates from German, specifically the word 'Aspirin,' where 'A-' was a prefix denoting 'acetyl' and 'spir' referred to 'Spiraea,' a plant genus from which salicylic acid was derived.

'Aspirin' was coined in the late 19th century by the German company Bayer and became a generic term for acetylsalicylic acid.

Initially, it referred specifically to the Bayer trademarked product, but over time it evolved into a generic term for acetylsalicylic acid.