'precoloured' originates from Latin and Old French elements: the prefix 'pre-' comes from Latin 'prae' meaning 'before', and 'colour' comes (via Old French 'colour') from Latin 'color' meaning 'colour'.

'precoloured' developed by combining the prefix 'pre-' with the Middle English/Old French-derived word 'colour' (Old French 'colour, colur'); compounds like 'pre-coloured' appeared in Modern English to mean 'coloured beforehand'.

Initially it meant simply 'colour applied before' and over time it has remained consistent, used especially for materials and manufactured items that are coloured in advance.