'bacteriotrypsin' originates from combining the prefix 'bacterio-' (from Greek 'bakterion' meaning 'small rod') and 'trypsin' (from Greek 'tryein', historically used for the proteolytic enzyme name 'trypsin').

'bacteriotrypsin' was formed in modern biochemical nomenclature by attaching the combining form 'bacterio-' to the established enzyme name 'trypsin', creating a term meaning 'trypsin-like enzyme from bacteria'.

Initially coined to denote a trypsin-like enzyme derived from bacteria, the term has retained that specific technical meaning in biochemical contexts.