'arenose' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'arenosus', where 'arena' meant 'sand' and the suffix '-osus' meant 'full of'.

'arenose' entered English from Latin (via New/Scientific Latin 'arenosus'); the formation in English follows the Latin adjective-making pattern and was used in technical and descriptive contexts from the 18th–19th century onward.

Initially, it meant 'full of sand' and over time retained the general meaning of 'sandy' or 'containing sand' in modern usage.