'atour' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'atour' meaning 'dress, equipment'.

'atour' passed into Middle English from Old French as 'atour' and was used in Middle English and Early Modern English texts to mean 'attire' or 'array'; it survives in modern English only as an archaic or poetic term.

Initially, it meant 'dress, equipment, readiness', and over time its primary sense narrowed to 'attire, ornament' and then became largely archaic in modern usage.