'chairperson' originates from the English word 'chair,' which referred to the seat of authority, combined with 'person' to denote a gender-neutral term for someone who presides over a meeting or organization.

'chair' was used in the 13th century to denote a seat of authority, and 'person' was added in the 20th century to create a gender-neutral term.

Initially, 'chair' referred to a physical seat, but over time it evolved to mean the position of authority, leading to the modern usage of 'chairperson.'