'cravat' originates from French, specifically the word 'cravate', which was derived from the Croatian word 'hrvat', meaning 'Croat'.

'cravate' transformed into the English word 'cravat' in the 17th century, maintaining its association with neckwear.

Initially, it referred to a specific style of neckwear worn by Croatians, but over time it evolved into a general term for a type of necktie.