'antiblocking' originates from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against') combined with 'blocking', derived from English 'block' (from Middle English 'blok' and Old French 'bloc').

'block' changed from Old French 'bloc' to Middle English 'blok' and later became modern English 'block'; the gerund/participle form 'blocking' combined with the prefix 'anti-' produced the compound 'antiblocking'.

Initially, the root 'block' often referred to a 'log' or 'solid piece' and later developed the sense of 'obstruct'; 'antiblocking' therefore evolved to mean 'against obstruction' or, more specifically, 'preventing sticking/locking'.