'acantholysis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'akantha' meaning 'thorn' and 'lysis' meaning 'loosening or dissolution'.

'acantholysis' was derived from the Greek word 'akantha' and 'lysis', and eventually became the modern English word 'acantholysis'.

Initially, it meant 'loosening of thorn-like structures', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'loss of connections between skin cells'.