'aumoniere' originates from French, specifically the word 'aumônière', where 'aumône' meant 'alms'.

'aumoniere' changed from French 'aumônière' (and Old French elements such as 'aumone') and ultimately from Latin 'eleemosyna' and Greek 'eleēmosynē', eventually becoming the modern English word 'aumoniere' via 18th-century French usage.

Initially, it meant 'bag for alms' or 'alms', but over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'small decorative purse or reticule'.