'acute-smelling' originates from Modern English, specifically the compound of 'acute' and 'smelling'. 'acute' ultimately comes from Latin 'acutus', where 'acu-' meant 'sharp', and 'smelling' is derived from the verb 'smell' (Old English).

'acute' passed into English via Latin 'acutus' (and related Old French forms) before becoming Middle/Modern English 'acute'. 'smell' evolved from Old English 'smellan' (or related Germanic forms) to Middle English 'smellen' and then Modern English 'smell', with the present participle producing 'smelling'.

Initially 'acute' meant 'sharp' (in a physical or perceptive sense) and 'smell' denoted the sense of odor; combined as 'acute-smelling' the term now describes something that has a sharp or strongly penetrating odor.