'aumbry' originates from Old French (or Anglo-Norman) 'aumbrie', ultimately derived from Latin 'armarium', where 'armarium' meant 'a chest or cupboard.'

'armarium' changed into Old French/Anglo-Norman forms such as 'aumbrie' or 'aumberie' and eventually became the modern English word 'aumbry' (also spelled 'ambry').

Initially it meant 'a chest or cupboard' in a general sense, but over time it became specialized to mean 'a recessed cabinet in a church for sacred items.'