'placeholder' originates from the combination of 'place' and 'holder', where 'place' meant 'a particular position or point in space' and 'holder' meant 'a person or thing that holds something'.

'placeholder' evolved from the concept of 'holding a place' in English, eventually becoming a single word to denote a temporary or symbolic representation.

Initially, it meant 'a person or thing that holds a place', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a symbol or text used to reserve space'.