'download' originates from the combination of 'down' and 'load', where 'down' implies 'from a higher to a lower place' and 'load' means 'to put a large amount of something into a vehicle or container'.

'download' was formed in the late 20th century as computer technology advanced, combining 'down' and 'load' to describe the process of transferring data from a remote system to a local one.

Initially, it meant 'to load data downwards', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.