'mercaptan' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'mercurium captans,' where 'mercurium' meant 'mercury' and 'captans' meant 'capturing.'

'mercaptan' was derived from the Latin phrase 'mercurium captans' and eventually became the modern English word 'mercaptan.'

Initially, it referred to compounds that could capture mercury, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of sulfur-containing organic compounds.