'anti-colic' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' and the noun 'colic'. 'anti-' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anti', where 'anti-' meant 'against'. 'colic' originates from Greek via Latin, specifically the Greek word 'kolikos' and Latin 'colicus', where the root 'kolon' referred to the 'colon' (large intestine).

'colic' came into English via Latin 'colicus' and Middle English 'colik/colic' from Greek 'kolikos'; the compound 'anti-colic' developed in modern English by attaching the productive prefix 'anti-' (from Greek via Latin and Old French) to 'colic' to denote something acting against colic.

Initially the parts separately referred to 'against' and 'colon-related pain'; over time the compound came to mean more generally 'against or preventing colic (abdominal pain or gas)', commonly applied to infant feeding products and remedies.