'samovar' originates from Russian, specifically the word 'самовар' (samovar), where 'само-' meant 'self' and 'варить' meant 'to boil.'

'samovar' was borrowed directly from Russian 'самовар' into English in the 18th century, and eventually became the modern English word 'samovar.'

Initially, it meant 'self-boiler' or 'a device that boils water by itself,' and over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a metal container for boiling water for tea.'