'catabolize' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'kataballein'/'katabole', where 'kata-' meant 'down' and 'ballein' (or related forms) meant 'to throw' or 'to put'.

'catabolize' passed into New Latin/Neo-Latin medical and scientific usage (via forms like 'catabolisare'/'catabolizare') and then into English scientific vocabulary as 'catabolize' in the 19th century.

Initially connected to the literal idea of 'throwing down' or 'a casting down', the meaning shifted in scientific use to 'breaking down' (specifically metabolic breakdown of molecules).