'pebble' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'papolstān', where 'papol' meant 'pebble' and 'stān' meant 'stone'.

'papolstān' changed from Old English to the Middle English word 'pebble', and eventually became the modern English word 'pebble'.

Initially, it meant 'a small stone', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.