Mid 19th century; earliest use found in William Taylor (1765–1836), reviewer and translator. From classical Latin centum hundred from the same Indo-European base as hund.

Late 19th century; earliest use found in Classical Review. From classical Latin centum hundred, after German Centum-, (now usually) Kentum- (chiefly in Centumsprache, (now usually) Kentumsprache centum language), with reference to those Indo-European languages in which it is assumed that the Indo-European palatalized voiceless velar plosives (as in Latin centum) did not become sibilants.