'chronicle-keeping' is a compound formed from 'chronicle' and 'keeping'. 'Chronicle' originates from Late Latin 'chronica', via Greek 'khronikos' (from 'khronos') where 'khronos' meant 'time'. 'Keeping' derives from the verb 'keep', from Old English 'cēpan' (or 'cépan') meaning 'to seize, hold, keep.'

'Chronicle' came into English via Late Latin and Old French (e.g. Latin 'chronica' from Greek 'khronikos'), becoming Middle English 'cronicle'/'chronicle' and then modern English 'chronicle'. 'Keep' evolved from Old English 'cēpan' to Middle English 'kepen' and modern 'keep'; the gerundive/participle form produced 'keeping'. The compound 'chronicle-keeping' is a modern English formation combining these elements to refer to the act of maintaining chronicles.

Individually, 'chronicle' originally referenced writings about time-ordered events and 'keep' meant 'to hold/retain'; combined in modern usage they specifically mean 'the act of recording and maintaining chronological records'.