'atherosclerosis' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'athero' meaning 'gruel' or 'paste' and 'sclerosis' meaning 'hardening'.

'atherosclerosis' was derived from the Greek word 'athero' combined with 'sclerosis', and eventually became the modern English word 'atherosclerosis'.

Initially, it referred to the hardening of arteries due to fatty deposits, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.