What origin does the word rice come from?

The word "rice" comes from the Old French word "riz", which itself is derived from the Latin word "oryza".

"Oryza" is the Latin name for the genus of plants that rice belongs to, which is believed to have originated in Southeast Asia.

So, the word "rice" has its roots in Latin and French, with its ultimate origin likely coming from the ancient name for the plant itself.