'doughnut' originates from English, specifically the words 'dough' and 'nut', where 'dough' meant 'a thick, malleable mixture of flour and liquid' and 'nut' referred to the shape.

'doughnut' changed from the earlier term 'dough nut' and eventually became the modern English word 'doughnut'.

Initially, it meant 'a small nut-shaped cake made of dough', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a sweet fried cake'.