'barometrograph' originates from Greek elements, specifically 'baros' where 'baro-' meant 'weight' or 'pressure', 'metron' where 'metro-' meant 'measure', and 'graphein' where '-graph' meant 'to write or record'.

'barometrograph' was formed as a technical compound in the 19th century from the elements used in 'barometer' plus the suffix '-graph' (from Greek), and it developed into the modern English technical term 'barometrograph'.

Initially, it meant 'an instrument for recording atmospheric pressure', and over time it has retained that same technical meaning as 'a recording barometer'.