'ostinato' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'ostinato', ultimately from Latin 'obstinatus', where 'obstinare' meant 'to persist, to be stubborn'.

'ostinato' changed from the Late Latin word 'obstinatus' into Italian 'ostinato' and was borrowed into English (as a musical term) from Italian in the 19th century.

Initially it meant 'stubborn' or 'obstinate' (a trait), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a persistently repeated musical figure'.