'stationery' originates from the Latin word 'stationarius', which referred to a 'stationary' or 'fixed' position, as stationers were originally booksellers who had fixed stalls.

'stationarius' transformed into the Old French word 'estacionnaire', and eventually became the modern English word 'stationery'.

Initially, it referred to booksellers, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'writing materials'.