'bacchant' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'Bacchans'/'bacchant-', ultimately from Greek 'Bakkhantes', where the root 'Bacch-' referred to the god 'Bacchus' (the wine god).

'bacchant' changed from the Greek word 'Bakkhantes' (Βάκχαι/βακχᾶντες), passed into Latin as 'Bacchantes'/'bacchant-', and came into English (via Middle English/late Latin usage) as the modern word 'bacchant'.

Initially, it meant 'a worshipper or devotee of Bacchus', but over time it came to be used more generally for 'someone given to drunken revelry or orgiastic behavior'.