'baritone' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'baritono', which itself comes from Medieval Latin and ultimately from Greek 'βαρύτονος' (barýtonos), where the roots 'barýs' meant 'heavy' and 'tonos' meant 'tone' or 'pitch'.

'baritone' changed from Greek 'βαρύτονος' to Italian 'baritono' (and French 'baryton') and eventually became the modern English word 'baritone'.

Initially, it meant 'heavy-sounding' or 'low tone', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a low male singing voice or an instrument producing such tones'.