'arboric' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'arbor', where 'arbor' meant 'tree'. The English suffix '-ic' (from Greek/Latin) gives the sense 'pertaining to'.

'arbor' gave rise to Late Latin forms such as 'arboricus' meaning 'of trees', which was adopted into English formation patterns to produce 'arboric' (via scientific/technical usage).

Initially it meant 'of or belonging to trees' and that core meaning has been retained; modern usage applies both to biological contexts and to descriptions of tree-like forms.