'putti' originates from Italian, specifically the singular noun 'putto', which traces back to Late Latin 'putus' meaning 'boy' (also 'pure' in Classical Latin).

'putus' in Late Latin gave Italian 'putto' (“boy, child”); the art-historical term entered English via Italian, with the plural form 'putti' becoming standard in English discourse on Renaissance and Baroque art.

Originally meaning simply 'boy/child', it developed in art history to denote the characteristic chubby child figures used decoratively, often winged, in Renaissance and Baroque works.