'arboricoline' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'arboricolinus', where 'arbor' meant 'tree' and the element derived from Latin 'colere' meant 'to inhabit or dwell in'.

'arboricolinus' was formed in Neo-Latin from Latin 'arbor' + a derivative of 'colere' and was adopted into Modern English as the scientific/technical adjective 'arboricoline'.

Initially it meant 'pertaining to inhabiting trees' in scientific Latin, and over time it has retained that specialized meaning in English as 'tree-dwelling' or 'living in trees'.