'arabinose-derived' originates from modern English by combining 'arabinose' and 'derived'. 'Arabinose' itself was named in the 19th century from 'gum arabic' (via a form related to Arabic place/name for the gum) with the sugar suffix '-ose'. 'Derived' comes ultimately from Latin 'derivare' meaning 'to draw off' or 'to lead from'.

'arabinose' was coined in scientific usage in the 1800s from the name of gum arabic plus the suffix '-ose' for sugars; 'derive' entered English from Latin (via Old French/Medieval Latin) and developed into the adjective form 'derived'. These elements were later combined in modern English to form the compound adjective 'arabinose-derived'.

Initially, 'arabinose' referred specifically to the sugar isolated from gum arabic and 'derive' meant 'to draw off or lead from'; over time the combination came to mean 'obtained from arabinose' in chemical and biochemical contexts.