'aponeurosis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aponevrōsis' (Greek: ἀπονεύρωσις), where 'apo-' meant 'away from' and 'neûron' meant 'sinew' or 'tendon'.

'aponeurosis' changed from the Greek word 'aponevrōsis' into Late Latin/Modern Latin 'aponeurosis' and was adopted into English in much the same form.

Initially it referred to a separation or 'away-from-sinew' structure (a tendonlike sheet); over time this became the technical anatomical term for a broad, flat tendon or fibrous sheet connecting muscle to bone or other tissues.