'autotomous' is a modern English adjectival formation derived from 'autotomy' + the suffix '-ous'. 'Autotomy' itself comes from Greek elements 'auto-' meaning 'self' and 'tomē' meaning 'a cutting'.

'autotomous' developed from the noun 'autotomy' (modern English), which originated from Greek 'autotomía' (αὐτοτομία) formed from 'auto-' ('self') + 'tomē' ('cutting').

Initially formed from a term meaning 'self-cutting', the sense specialized in biology to mean 'self-amputation or deliberate shedding of a body part'; the adjective now describes organisms or structures capable of or related to that process.