'acupressure' originates from the combination of 'acu-' from Latin 'acus' meaning 'needle' and 'pressure' from Latin 'pressura' meaning 'to press'.

'Acupressure' was derived from the practice of acupuncture, which uses needles, and evolved into a non-invasive method using pressure.

Initially, it meant 'to apply pressure to points on the body', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.