'lymphatic' originates from Late Latin, specifically the word 'lymphaticus', where 'lymph-' meant 'water' or 'watery fluid'.

'lymphatic' changed from Late Latin 'lymphaticus' into Middle English forms derived via Old French and eventually became the modern English word 'lymphatic' (plural 'lymphatics').

Initially, it meant 'pertaining to watery fluid' and over time evolved to mean 'pertaining to the lymph or the lymphatic system', i.e., vessels carrying lymph.