'alkaline-stable' originates from Modern English, formed by combining 'alkaline' and 'stable'. 'alkaline' ultimately derives from Arabic 'al-qalī' (often written 'alkali') where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'qalī' meant 'ashes'; 'stable' originates from Latin 'stabilis' meaning 'standing firm'.

'alkaline' came into European languages via Medieval Latin 'alcali' (from Arabic 'al-qalī'), then into Modern English as 'alkali' and the adjective 'alkaline'. 'stable' passed from Latin 'stabilis' through Old French/Middle English into Modern English. The compound 'alkaline-stable' is a modern scientific/technical formation used in 20th-century chemistry and biochemistry.

Initially the components meant 'related to alkali (ashes/alkaline substances)' and 'standing firm'; combined in modern usage they mean 'able to withstand alkaline (basic) conditions' or 'stable in a basic environment'.