'atticomastoid' originates as a modern medical compound (Neo-Latin/International scientific coinage), combining the prefix 'attico-' (from Greek 'attikos', originally 'of Attica', later used in anatomy for the 'attic' or epitympanum of the middle ear) and 'mastoid' (from Greek 'mastos' meaning 'breast' + suffix '-oid' meaning 'resembling').

'attic' comes from Greek 'attikos' → Latin 'atticus' and was later applied in anatomy to the epitympanic recess; 'mastoid' comes from Greek 'mastos' → Late Latin 'mastoides' → English 'mastoid'. The compound formed in modern medical usage as terms for ear anatomy and surgery were combined (e.g., atticotomy + mastoidectomy → atticomastoidectomy).

Initially 'attico-' reflected a geographic/descriptor origin ('of Attica') and 'mastoid' meant 'breast-shaped'; over time both elements took specialized anatomical senses ('attic' = epitympanum; 'mastoid' = mastoid part/air cells), and the compound now denotes involvement of those specific ear regions.