'sulfonal' originates from 'International Scientific Vocabulary', specifically from 'sulfonic' and 'al' (from alcohol), where 'sulfonic' refers to the sulfonic acid group and 'al' indicates an alcohol derivative.

'sulfonal' was coined in the late 19th century as a name for a new sedative compound, combining chemical terminology to describe its structure.

Initially, it meant 'a specific chemical compound with sedative properties', and this meaning has remained unchanged in modern usage, though the drug is now obsolete.