'ester' originates from German, specifically the word 'Essigäther,' where 'Essig' meant 'vinegar' and 'Äther' meant 'ether.'

'Essigäther' transformed into the English word 'ester' in the 19th century.

Initially, it referred to a specific type of ether, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a class of organic compounds.