'recolour' originates from English, specifically the prefix 're-' (from Latin 're-') and the word 'colour', which comes from Old French 'colour' and ultimately from Latin 'color', where 'color' meant 'a covering, tone'.

'recolour' changed by adding the prefix 're-' to the Middle English word 'colour' (from Old French 'colour' < Latin 'color'), and eventually became the modern English word 'recolour'.

Initially, it meant 'to colour again,' and over time the meaning broadened to 'to change or apply colour' in general.