'auriscope' originates from New Latin/modern medical coinage, combining Latin 'auris' meaning 'ear' with the Greek-derived suffix '-scope' (from 'skopein') meaning 'to look' or 'to examine'.

'auriscope' was formed in modern English medical vocabulary by joining Latin 'auris' and the Greek-rooted element '-scope' (analogous to terms like 'otoscope'), and entered use to denote instruments for ear examination.

Initially it meant 'an instrument for inspecting the ear', and this meaning has remained essentially unchanged in medical usage.