'laminar' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'lamina', where 'lamina' meant 'thin plate, layer' and the suffix '-aris' meant 'pertaining to'.

'laminar' changed from the Medieval/Latin adjective 'laminaris' (from 'lamina') and was adopted into English (via Modern/Scientific Latin) as 'laminar'.

Initially, it meant 'pertaining to a thin plate or layer', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'relating to layers or to layered flow (for example, laminar flow in fluids)'.