'antierysipelas' originates from Greek elements: the prefix 'anti-' from Greek 'antí' meaning 'against' and 'erysipelas' from Greek 'erysipelas' meaning 'a red skin eruption'.

'erysipelas' passed into Latin and Medieval Latin as 'erysipelas' and was adopted into English medical usage; the compound 'anti-' was later attached in English to form 'antierysipelas' (or 'anti-erysipelas') to denote agents opposing the disease.

Initially the root 'erysipelas' referred generally to a red skin eruption; over time it became the specific name of a bacterial skin infection, and 'antierysipelas' evolved to mean agents or measures against that specific disease.