'autotomize' originates ultimately from Greek, specifically from the element 'autotomos' where 'auto-' meant 'self' and 'tomos' (from 'temnein') meant 'cut' or 'cutting'.

'autotomize' developed via New Latin/Modern scientific usage from Greek 'autotomos' → Latinized/Neolatin forms (e.g. 'autotomia'/'autotomy') and then into modern English as the verb 'autotomize'.

Initially it meant 'self-cutting' or 'cut off by oneself'; over time it came to be used specifically in biology for the deliberate detachment of a body part (e.g., tail) as an adaptive or defensive action.