'verso' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'verso', ultimately from Latin 'versus' (from the verb 'vertere'), where 'vertere' meant 'to turn' and 'versus' meant 'turned'.

'verso' changed from Latin 'versus' into Italian 'verso' and entered English usage (particularly in bibliography and printing) as the modern English word 'verso'.

Initially it meant 'turned' or 'the side that has been turned'; over time it came to denote specifically 'the back/left-hand side of a leaf or page' in bibliographical and printing contexts.