'unstake' originates from English, specifically the prefix 'un-' and the word 'stake', where 'un-' meant 'not' and 'stake' meant 'a post or stake used for support or fastening'.

'stake' changed from Old English word 'staca' (meaning 'post, stake') through Middle English 'stake' and eventually became the modern English word 'stake'. The prefix 'un-' comes from Old English 'un-' meaning 'not', forming 'unstake' by negation.

Initially it meant 'to remove a physical stake' (i.e., take out a post supporting something), but over time it also came to be used figuratively/technically to mean 'to withdraw tokens from staking' in blockchain contexts.