'antiarin' originates from Modern Latin, specifically from the plant genus name 'Antiaris' combined with the chemical suffix '-in' (used to name substances), where 'Antiaris' is the genus name of the upas tree.

'antiarin' was coined in the 19th century as a chemical name derived from the botanical name 'Antiaris' + the suffix '-in' and entered English scientific usage to denote the specific toxic substance isolated from that genus.

Initially, it meant 'a substance obtained from Antiaris (the upas tree)'; over time it came to denote the particular class of toxic cardiac glycosides isolated from those trees and similar sources.