'bezoar' originates from Persian, specifically the word 'pādzahr', where 'pād' meant 'protector' and 'zahr' meant 'poison'.

'pādzahr' transformed into the Arabic word 'bāzahr', and eventually became the modern English word 'bezoar' through Old French 'bezoard'.

Initially, it meant 'antidote to poison', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a mass found in the gastrointestinal system'.