'herring' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'hǣring', where 'hǣr' meant 'gray' or 'hoary', referring to the fish's color.

'hǣring' changed from Old English to the Middle English word 'hering', and eventually became the modern English word 'herring'.

Initially, it referred to the fish's color, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a type of fish.