'inflammable' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'inflammabilis,' where 'in-' meant 'into' and 'flammare' meant 'to set on fire.'

'inflammabilis' transformed into the French word 'inflammable,' and eventually became the modern English word 'inflammable' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'capable of being set on fire,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.