'arborolater' originates from Latin 'arbor' (tree) combined with Greek 'latreia' (λατρεία, worship) via the combining element '-latry/-later', where 'arbor' meant 'tree' and 'latreia' meant 'worship'.

'arborolater' developed from the noun 'arborolatry' (arbor- + -latry) in English/Neo-Latin; an agentive English formation added the suffix '-er' to denote 'one who practices arborolatry', yielding 'arborolater'.

Initially it meant 'one who worships trees', and this core meaning has remained stable in its attestations.