'druggist' originates from English formation of 'drug' + the agent suffix '-ist', where 'drug' referred to medicinal or chemical substances and '-ist' formed an agent noun.

'drug' itself came into Middle English as 'drogge' from Old French 'drogue' (and ultimately Medieval Latin 'droga'); the agent-forming suffix '-ist' (from Greek/Latin via French and English) was added to form 'druggist' in Early Modern English.

Initially, it meant 'one who sells or supplies drugs (medicinal substances)'; over time it has remained largely the same, modernly aligning with the role of a pharmacist or drugstore owner.