'partition' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'partitio', where 'part-' meant 'part' and '-itio' meant 'action or process'.

'partitio' transformed into the Old French word 'particion', and eventually became the modern English word 'partition' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'the action of dividing into parts', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.