'circumflagellate' originates from Latin, specifically the elements 'circum' and 'flagellare,' where 'circum-' meant 'around' and 'flagellare' meant 'to whip'.

'circumflagellate' was formed from Latin/Neo-Latin components (for example Medieval/Neo-Latin 'circumflagellare') and entered English as the verb 'circumflagellate'.

Initially it referred specifically to the literal action 'to whip around'; over time it has also been used in more formal or figurative senses (for example, to subject someone to severe criticism or to self-punish).