'asphyctic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'asphuxia' (ἀσφυξία), where the prefix 'a-' meant 'without' and the root 'sphux/ sphyx' referred to 'pulse'.

'asphyctic' passed into Late Latin/Medieval Latin as 'asphycticus' (from Greek 'asphuxia') and later entered English in adjectival form as 'asphyctic'.

Initially it was associated with the idea of 'without pulse' (loss of pulse); over time the sense broadened to the modern meaning 'relating to or causing suffocation/oxygen deprivation'.