'civilian-protecting' originates from combining the English word 'civilian' and the present-participle form of the verb 'protect' ('protecting'). 'civilian' ultimately comes from Latin 'civilis' meaning 'relating to citizens', and 'protect' comes from Latin 'protegere' meaning 'to cover in front' or 'to defend'.

'civilian' developed via Old French/Medieval Latin terms such as 'civilien' from Latin 'civilis' and became English 'civilian'; 'protect' evolved from Latin 'protegere' into Old French 'proteger' and Middle English 'protecten', later giving the modern English 'protect' and its participle 'protecting'.

Initially, the components meant 'relating to citizens' (civilian) and 'to cover/guard' (protect). Over time the compound use has come to denote actions, policies, or measures specifically intended to shield civilians from harm.