Pimples come in many shape and forms and the clinical terms include acne, nodular acne and acne vuglaris. No one knows where the term pimple originated from, but some think that it may have come from the Old English word pipligende, which means having shingles and originated around 1400. Since both skin conditions can cause bumps, the term could have been used interchangeably for any kind of bumpy skin condition.