'antiabrasion' is a compound formed from the Greek prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' and the noun 'abrasion' (from Latin/Old French), where 'abrasion' comes from Latin 'abrasio' meaning 'a rubbing off'.

'abrasion' entered English via Old French and Latin: Latin 'abradere' ('ab-'/'ad-' + 'radere' = 'to scrape') gave 'abrasio' in Late Latin, then Old French 'abrasion', which became English 'abrasion'. The modern compound 'antiabrasion' is a later, technical formation combining 'anti-' + 'abrasion'.

Originally related to the action of rubbing or scraping (i.e., 'to scrape off'), the sense shifted to indicate resistance to that action; 'antiabrasion' specifically denotes opposition to or prevention of abrasion.