'augite' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'augites', where 'aug-' meant 'to shine' (related to 'augē' meaning 'ray, light').

'augites' was used in New Latin/mineralogical Latin to name the mineral and was adopted into English as 'augite'.

Initially it referred to a 'shining' quality (from the Greek root), but the term came to be applied specifically to this dark, often lustrous pyroxene mineral.