'ballismus' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ballismos', where 'ball-' (from Greek 'ballein') meant 'to throw'.

'ballismus' passed into New Latin/medical Latin from Greek 'ballismos' and was adopted into English medical usage as 'ballismus' to denote the throwing-type movements; related English form 'ballism' is a shortened variant.

Initially, it referred broadly to a 'throwing' action or movement; over time it became the clinical term for sudden, violent, flinging involuntary movements.