'autograft' originates from Greek and English components: specifically the Greek word 'autos', where 'autos' meant 'self', combined with English 'graft' (from Old French 'grafe/greffe', a piece used for grafting).

'graft' originally referred to a shoot or scion used in plant grafting (Old French 'grafe/greffe') and later extended in English to mean the transplanting of tissue; the medical compound 'autograft' was formed by combining Greek 'auto-' + English 'graft' in modern medical usage to denote a self-to-self transplant.

Initially the elements referred to 'self' and 'a piece used for grafting' (plant context); over time the combined term evolved into the medical sense 'a tissue transplant from one part of a person's body to another'.