Mid 19th century; earliest use found in William Howitt (1792–1879), writer. From German Abiturient candidate for the Abitur, also pupil who has recently passed the Abitur from post-classical Latin abiturient-, abituriens, present participle of abiturire to be about to leave from classical Latin abit-, past participial stem of abīre to go away + -urīre, suffix forming desiderative verbs.