'rebut' originates from Old French, specifically the word 'rebouter,' where 're-' meant 'back' and 'bouter' meant 'to push.'

'rebouter' transformed into the Middle English word 'rebuten,' and eventually became the modern English word 'rebut.'

Initially, it meant 'to push back,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to refute or disprove an argument.'