'cloudburst' originates from the English words 'cloud' and 'burst', where 'cloud' refers to a visible mass of condensed water vapor and 'burst' means to break open suddenly.

'cloudburst' was formed by combining the words 'cloud' and 'burst' in the 19th century, reflecting the sudden and intense nature of the phenomenon.

Initially, it meant 'a sudden and heavy rainfall', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.