'balzarine' originates from French, specifically the word 'balzarine', recorded in the 19th century; the ultimate origin is uncertain and may be a trade name or a borrowing from another Romance language.

'balzarine' was borrowed into English from French in the 1800s as the name for a particular lightweight fabric; it entered English usage unchanged as 'balzarine'.

Initially it referred specifically to a particular light, sheer fabric used for dresses; over time the term became rare/archaic in general usage and is mainly found in historical textile descriptions.