'silt' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'silt', where it referred to a fine deposit of sand or mud.

'silt' appeared in Middle English as 'silt' (unchanged in form) and continued into modern English as 'silt'; the gerund/participle form 'silting' developed from the verb form.

Initially, it meant 'a deposit of fine earth or mud', and over time it retained that basic sense while also being used to describe the process ('silting').