'anthracotic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anthrax', where 'anthrax' meant 'coal' (or 'carbuncle'), combined with the adjectival suffix '-otic' (from New Latin/Greek formation meaning 'relating to').

'anthracotic' was formed in New Latin/Modern scientific usage from Greek 'anthrax' via the combining form 'anthrac-' and the Latin/Neo-Latin adjectival ending '-oticus'/'-otic', and was adopted into English in scientific/medical contexts as 'anthracotic'.

Initially it meant 'pertaining to coal' or 'coal-like', but over time it evolved to the more specific medical/scientific sense 'relating to anthracosis or carbon deposition (e.g., in lung tissue)'.