'bandelette' originates from French, specifically the word 'bandelette,' where 'bande' meant 'band' (a strip) and the diminutive suffix '-ette' meant 'small'.

'bandelette' came into English as a borrowing from French 'bandelette' (diminutive of French 'bande'), ultimately tracing back to Old French 'bande' and Germanic Frankish '*banda' meaning 'strip' or 'band'.

Initially it meant 'a small band or ribbon', but over time it has come to be used especially for 'a small bandage or narrow strip of material used to bind or support'.