'boniness' originates from English, specifically the adjective 'bony', where 'bone' meant 'bone' and the suffix '-y' meant 'characterized by', with '-ness' forming the noun indicating a state or quality.

'boniness' changed from the Middle English adjective 'bony' (derived from Old English 'bān' meaning 'bone') and eventually became the modern English noun 'boniness' by the addition of the suffix '-ness'.

Initially it meant 'having or relating to bones' (via 'bony'), but over time it evolved into the specific noun meaning 'the quality or degree of being bony' and also came to be used for the amount of bones in food.