'cell-toxic' originates from English by combining 'cell' and 'toxic'; 'cell' ultimately comes from Latin 'cella' where 'cella' meant 'small room' (used for a small chamber or storage), and 'toxic' ultimately comes from Greek 'toxikon' where 'toxikon' meant 'poison (for arrows)'.

'cell' entered English via Latin 'cella' (and through Old French/Medieval Latin forms) and became the modern English 'cell'; 'toxic' came from Greek 'toxikon' to Late Latin/Old French forms (e.g. Latin 'toxicum', French 'toxique') and then into Modern English as 'toxic'. The compound 'cell-toxic' is a modern English formation modeled on compounds/compounds using '-toxic' (e.g. 'neurotoxic', 'hepatotoxic').

Initially 'toxikon' referred specifically to 'poison for arrows' and then generalized to 'poison' or 'poisonous'; in modern usage the compound 'cell-toxic' specifically means 'harmful or poisonous to cells'.