'arthrocele' originates from Greek, specifically the combining forms 'arthro-' (from 'arthron') and '-cele' (from 'kēlē'), where 'arthron' meant 'joint' and 'kēlē' meant 'tumor' or 'hernia'.

'arthrocele' was formed in New Latin/medical Latin from the Greek combining elements and was adopted into English medical usage in the 19th century with the same formation and meaning.

Initially, it meant 'a hernial protrusion or swelling of a joint', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern medical usage.