'accelerometer' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'accelerare,' where 'ad-' meant 'toward' and 'celerare' meant 'to hasten.'

'accelerare' transformed into the French word 'accélérer,' and eventually became the modern English word 'accelerate,' from which 'accelerometer' is derived.

Initially, it meant 'to hasten or speed up,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'an instrument for measuring acceleration.'