'aulete' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'αὐλητής (aulētēs)', where the root 'αὐλ-' (aul-) meant 'pipe, flute'.

'aulete' derives from the Ancient Greek 'αὐλητής' (aulētēs) and entered English as a learned/technical term via Latin and modern scholarly usage describing classical Greek musicians.

Initially, it meant 'one who plays the aulos' in Ancient Greek, and it has retained that specialist meaning in modern English usage describing the same role.