'sandstone' originates from English (compound), specifically from the Old English words 'sand' and 'stān', where 'sand' meant 'sand' and 'stān' meant 'stone'.

'sandstone' changed from Old English compound forms (e.g. 'sandstān') through Middle English ('sandstone') and eventually became the modern English word 'sandstone'.

Initially it meant 'a stone made of sand' (literally), and over time that basic meaning has remained largely the same as the modern meaning 'a rock composed of sand-sized particles'.