'anti-erysipelic' originates from Greek and New Latin elements: the prefix 'anti-' (Greek) meaning 'against' and 'erysipelic' formed from 'erysipelas' (Greek 'erysipelas') meaning 'red skin'.

'erysipelas' comes from Greek 'erysipelas' (literally 'red skin'), which passed into Latin and then into Old French and Middle English as 'erisipelas/erysipelas'; the adjective form 'erysipelic' was later formed in medical usage, and the prefix 'anti-' was attached in modern English to produce 'anti-erysipelic'.

Initially connected to the disease notion 'red skin' (erysipelas), the combined form shifted to mean 'against or preventing erysipelas' when used to describe protective agents or measures.