'assistantship' originates from English, specifically formed from the noun 'assistant' plus the suffix '-ship', where 'assistant' comes via French 'assistant' from Latin 'assistere' (with the prefix 'ad-' meaning 'to' and the root 'sistere' meaning 'to stand'), and the suffix '-ship' comes from Old English 'scipe' meaning 'state, condition, quality'.

'assistantship' developed by combining the Middle/Modern English noun 'assistant' (borrowed from Old French 'assistant', itself from Latin present participle 'assisterns/assistens' of 'assistere') with the Old English-derived suffix '-ship' (from 'scipe'), producing the modern English compound 'assistantship'.

Initially it referred broadly to the state or office of being an assistant; over time it has come to be used especially for specific paid posts in academic settings (e.g., graduate assistantships).