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

'praecipitōsus' transformed into the French word 'précipiteux,' and eventually became the modern English word 'precipitous' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'headlong or steep,' but over time it evolved into its current meanings of 'very steep' and 'done suddenly.'