'catalogue' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'katalogos', where 'kata-' meant 'down' or 'according to' and 'logos' meant 'word' or 'account'.

'catalogue' passed into Latin as 'catalogus', then into Old French as 'catalogue' and Middle English as 'cataloge', eventually becoming the modern English 'catalogue'.

Initially it meant 'a list' or 'an account', and over time it kept the core meaning of 'a systematic list' and the related verb meaning 'to make such a list'.