The term was first used by the 9th-century Persian mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi in his book "The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing". Al-Khwarizmi's work introduced the concept of solving equations by manipulating terms, which is the fundamental principle of algebra.
So, while "algebra" may seem like a complex and intimidating word, its origins lie in a simple, descriptive Arabic term that reflects the very essence of the discipline: bringing together broken parts to form a whole.