'aught' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'āwiht', where 'ā-' meant 'ever' and 'wiht' meant 'thing'.

'aught' changed from Old English word 'āwiht' into Middle English forms such as 'aught'/'aought' and eventually became the modern English word 'aught' (with the plural 'aughts'). The related word 'naught' (meaning 'nothing') developed from Old English 'nāwiht' (ne + āwiht).

Initially it meant 'anything' or 'any thing', but over time it evolved into senses including 'zero' and, by extension, the decade-name 'the aughts' for the years 2000–2009.