'antiamylase' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') and the word 'amylase' (from Neo-Latin/Modern formation 'amyl' + suffix '-ase', where 'amyl' traces to Latin/Greek for 'starch' and '-ase' denotes an enzyme).

'antiamylase' was created by combining the prefix 'anti-' with the enzyme name 'amylase'. The element 'amyl-' comes from Latin 'amylum' (from Greek 'amylon') meaning 'starch', and the enzyme-forming suffix '-ase' was introduced in the late 19th century in enzyme nomenclature; these parts combined in Modern English to form 'amylase' and later 'antiamylase'.

Initially formed to mean 'against amylase' (i.e., opposing or inhibiting amylase), and it has retained that specific inhibitory meaning in modern scientific usage.