Mid 18th century; earliest use found in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. From Spanish †platina platinum (A. de Ulloa Relación historica del viage a la America meridional; now platino, with change of gender after French platine: see platinum) from plata silver + -ina.

Late 18th century; earliest use found in William Richardson (1743–1814), literary scholar. Origin uncertain; probably a transferred use of platina.