'front-to-back' originates from English as a compound of the words 'front', 'to', and 'back'. 'Front' comes from Old French 'front' (from Latin 'frons'), where 'front' meant 'forehead, forward part'; 'to' is a preposition indicating direction; and 'back' comes from Old English 'bæc', where 'back' meant 'rear part'.

'front-to-back' developed in Modern English by combining 'front' (from Old French 'front' < Latin 'frons') and 'back' (from Old English 'bæc'), joined by the preposition 'to' to indicate direction; the compound form 'front-to-back' has been used in technical and everyday contexts since the 19th–20th centuries.

Initially it literally described movement or position 'from the forehead/forward part toward the rear', but over time it has remained largely literal and is now commonly used to indicate any direction or arrangement 'from the front toward the back'.