'baryglossia' originates from Greek elements used in New Latin medical coinage: 'barys' meaning 'heavy' and 'glōssa' meaning 'tongue'.

'baryglossia' was formed in Modern Latin/medical terminology by combining the Greek roots 'barys' and 'glōssa' and was later adopted into English as a technical medical term.

Initially it literally meant 'heavy tongue' in the sense of tongue weight or heaviness; over time it has been used specifically in medical contexts to denote reduced tongue mobility or a sensation of tongue heaviness affecting speech.