'arthrometer' originates from Greek elements via modern medical English: specifically from Greek 'arthron' meaning 'joint' and Greek 'metron' meaning 'measure'.

'arthrometer' was formed in modern (New) English/medical usage as a compound of the combining form 'arthro-' (from Greek 'arthron') plus the suffix '-meter' (from Greek 'metron'), and was adopted to name instruments that measure joint motion.

Initially coined to mean 'an instrument for measuring joints or joint motion', its meaning has remained essentially the same in modern medical usage.