'paint' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'peint', ultimately from Latin 'pingere', where 'pingere' meant 'to paint, to prick or puncture'.

'paint' changed from the Middle English verb 'painte(n)' (influenced by Old French 'peindre'/'peint') and eventually became the modern English word 'paint'.

Initially it meant 'to apply pigment or colour' (and in older senses also 'to prick/mark'); over time it has largely retained the primary meaning of 'to apply colour to a surface' while acquiring figurative senses (e.g. 'painted smile').