'cloister' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'clostre', which came from the Latin 'claustrum', where 'claudere' meant 'to close'.

'claustrum' transformed into the Old French word 'clostre', and eventually became the modern English word 'cloister' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'an enclosed place', but over time it evolved into its current meanings of 'a covered walkway in a religious building' and 'a place of religious seclusion'.