'bacchante' originates from French, specifically the word 'bacchante', ultimately referring to a female worshipper of Bacchus (the god of wine). The element 'Bacch-' relates to Bacchus.

'bacchante' entered English via French from Latin 'Bacchanta' (feminine follower of Bacchus), which in turn reflects Greek terms for followers of the wine-god (related to Bakkhos/Bacchus). Over time the term moved from classical/ritual usage into English as a loanword describing similar figures and their behavior.

Initially, it meant 'a woman participating in rites or worship of Bacchus'; over time it broadened to mean 'a woman given to drunken revelry or frenzied behavior' and is also used in art and literature to denote such figures.