'cinnamyl' originates from 'cinnamon', specifically the word 'cinnamomum', where 'cinnamomum' meant 'spice from the bark of trees'.

'cinnamomum' transformed into the Latin word 'cinnamylus', and eventually became the modern English word 'cinnamyl'.

Initially, it meant 'spice from the bark of trees', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a univalent radical derived from cinnamic acid'.