'autotomize' originates from modern scientific coinage formed from Greek elements and the English verb-forming suffix. Specifically from Greek 'autotomos', where 'auto-' meant 'self' and the root 'tom-' (from 'temnein') meant 'to cut', with English '-ize' forming verbs.

'autotomize' developed from the noun 'autotomy' (from Greek 'autotomia' via New Latin), with English productive suffixation '-ize' producing the verb 'autotomize' in scientific/biological usage in modern English.

Initially the Greek-based elements signified 'to cut oneself'; over time, in biological English the sense specialized to mean 'to shed or detach a body part (as a defensive mechanism)', which is the current usage.