'silvering' originates from English, formed from the verb 'silver' plus the suffix '-ing'; 'silver' in English ultimately comes from Old English 'seolfor', where the root meant 'the metal silver'.

'silver' changed from Old English word 'seolfor' (and related Germanic forms) and eventually became the modern English word 'silver'; the verbal/gerund form was produced by adding the suffix '-ing', yielding 'silvering'.

Initially, the root referred specifically to the metal ('silver'); over time it evolved to include the verb sense 'to coat or cover with silver' and the noun sense 'the process or result of silver-plating'.