'avellane' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'avellana', which itself refers to 'of Avella' (a town) and by extension 'hazelnut'.

'avellane' passed into Medieval Latin/Old French forms such as 'avellana'/'aveline' and later entered English as 'avellane', influenced by botanical use (e.g. Corylus avellana).

Initially it referred to something 'of Avella' or directly to the 'hazelnut'; over time it came to denote the nut itself and the characteristic hazel or light-brown color associated with it.