'civilian-targeter' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the noun 'civilian' and the agent noun 'targeter', where 'civilian' ultimately comes from Latin 'civilis' meaning 'relating to citizens', and 'targeter' is derived from 'target' + agent suffix '-er' meaning 'one who targets'.

'civilian' developed from Latin 'civilis' → Old French 'civil' → Middle English 'civil', with 'civilian' formed later to mean a non-military person; 'target' entered English via Old French/Anglo-Norman forms for a shield or mark and became the modern 'target', to which the productive agent suffix '-er' was added in Modern English to make 'targeter'; the compound 'civilian-targeter' is a modern English formation combining those elements.

Initially 'civilian' meant 'relating to citizens' and 'targeter' simply 'one who targets'; together in modern usage the compound specifically denotes someone who directs attacks at non-combatants, often with a criminal or condemnatory sense.