'balancelle' originates from French, specifically the word 'balancelle', where the root 'balancer' meant 'to swing' and the diminutive suffix '-elle' indicated a small or little form.

'balancelle' was borrowed into English from French (likely in the 18th or 19th century) retaining its sense of a small swinging seat and, in some contexts, a small light boat.

Initially, it referred primarily to a small swinging seat; over time the word was also used (less commonly in English) to denote a small light boat in maritime contexts.