'siltstone' originates from the combination of 'silt' and 'stone', where 'silt' refers to fine sand or clay carried by running water and deposited as sediment, and 'stone' refers to a solid non-metallic mineral matter.

'siltstone' has remained relatively unchanged in its form and meaning since its introduction into geological terminology.

Initially, it meant 'a rock composed of silt-sized particles', and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.