A kiosk for music from the Silk Road and beyond. The word kiosk ultimately derives from the Persian word kūshk (کوشک), meaning "palace" or "portico," which entered English through Turkish (köşk, "pavilion") and then through French (kiosque) or Italian (chiosco).

Originally, the term described open garden pavilions or summerhouses found in Persian and Ottoman architecture. In the 17th century, such structures were introduced in Western Europe—often as decorative garden ornaments. By the 19th century, the meaning evolved, especially in France and England, to refer to small freestanding booths or stands used for selling goods like newspapers, retaining the association with a compact, accessible structure.