'purine' originates from German, specifically the word 'Purinstoff', where 'pur-' meant 'pure' and '-in' is a common suffix for chemical substances.

'Purinstoff' transformed into the English word 'purine' in the late 19th century.

Initially, it meant 'a pure chemical substance,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a compound forming uric acid on oxidation.'