'precipitation' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'praecipitatio,' where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'caput' meant 'head.'

'praecipitatio' transformed into the French word 'précipitation,' and eventually became the modern English word 'precipitation' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to throw down or fall,' but over time it evolved into its current meanings related to weather and chemical processes.