'arthrolithiasis' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'arthron' and 'lithos', where 'arthron' meant 'joint' and 'lithos' meant 'stone', combined with the medical suffix '-iasis' indicating a pathological condition.

'arthrolithiasis' was formed in New Latin/medical English by combining Greek roots ('arthron' + 'lithos') with the suffix '-iasis'; it entered medical usage to name the condition of stone formation in joints.

Initially it literally denoted a 'condition of joint stones'; over time it has remained a specialized medical term referring to the presence or formation of calcified bodies within a joint.