'disembowel' originates from Old French (or Anglo-Norman), specifically the word 'desenboweler' (or similar medieval forms), where the prefix 'dis-' (or 'des-') meant 'undo/away' and 'bowel' meant 'intestine'.

'disembowel' changed from Middle English 'disembowelen' (influenced by Old French forms) and eventually became the modern English word 'disembowel'; the past participle later appears as 'disembowelled' (British spelling) or 'disemboweled' (American spelling).

Initially, it meant 'to remove the bowels/intestines'; over time the core meaning of removing internal organs has remained largely unchanged and is still used literally (and sometimes figuratively).