'abrasion-resistant' is a modern English compound formed from 'abrasion' + 'resistant'. 'Abrasion' comes from Latin 'abrasio' (from 'abradere' meaning 'to scrape off'), while 'resistant' comes from Latin 'resistere' (via French 'résistant') meaning 'to withstand or oppose'.

'abrasion' entered English via Late Latin/Old French (Latin 'abrasio', from 'abradere' 'ab-' + 'radere' 'to scrape'), and 'resistant' came into English from French 'résistant', ultimately from Latin 'resistere' ('re-' + 'sistere'/'stare' meaning 'to stand'). The compound 'abrasion-resistant' arose in modern technical English (20th century) as materials science and industrial specifications required a concise descriptive adjective.

Initially, the roots meant 'to scrape off' (abrasion) and 'to stand back/withstand' (resistere). Over time these combined into the modern technical sense of 'able to withstand scraping or wear', a meaning that developed with industrial/materials usage.