'baize' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'baisse' or 'baise', where the original word meant 'a coarse woollen cloth'.

'baize' changed from Middle English/Old French word 'baise' (Middle English also recorded forms like 'bais' or 'bays') and eventually became the modern English word 'baize'.

Initially, it meant 'a coarse woollen cloth' in general; over time it came to be used especially for the coarse woollen fabric used to cover gaming and billiard tables (and thus to mean 'covered with baize').