'smelter' originates from Old English, specifically the verb 'smeltan' (to melt), ultimately from Proto-Germanic '*smeltaną' where the root meant 'to melt or fuse'.

'smelter' developed from Middle English forms related to 'smelten'/'smelt', with the agentive suffix '-er' later forming the noun 'smelter' to denote a person or device that performs smelting.

Initially it was associated with the action 'to melt' (the verb); over time it came to denote an agent or place performing that action — i.e., a person, machine, or facility for extracting metal from ore.