The Spanish word 'estola', meaning an ecclesiastical stole or liturgical vestment, traces its origins back to ancient Greek 'στολή' (stolē), which meant 'garment' or 'robe'. This Greek word was borrowed into Latin as 'stola', where it specifically referred to a long garment worn by Roman women. When the word entered Spanish as 'estola', it took on a more specific religious meaning, referring to the long decorative scarf worn by clergy during religious ceremonies. The addition of the initial 'e-' in Spanish is a common development that occurred with many words borrowed from Latin that began with 's' followed by a consonant.

While 'estola' itself is a relatively specific term for the ecclesiastical garment, Spanish students might encounter related words like 'estilo' (style), which, while not directly derived from the same root, shares some historical connection through the idea of presentation and appearance.

English speakers will find a direct cognate in the word 'stole', which has the same ecclesiastical meaning as Spanish 'estola'. The English word 'stole' can refer both to the religious vestment and to a woman's long scarf or shawl, preserving both the religious and clothing-related meanings from its historical development. The word 'stolid' (meaning impassive or unemotional) also comes from Latin 'stolidus', though this is not directly related to 'stola' despite the similar spelling.