'watercolor' originates from English, combining 'water' (Old English 'wæter') and 'color' (from Old French 'colour', ultimately from Latin 'color').

'watercolor' appeared in Middle English as 'water-colour' and later developed into the modern English forms 'watercolour' (British) and 'watercolor' (American); the plural forms ('watercolours' / 'watercolors') followed these spellings.

Initially it meant 'colour or pigment used with water,' and over time it has come to mean both 'the water-based paints' and 'a painting made with those paints.'