'clinometer' originates from Greek via New Latin, specifically the Greek words 'klinein' and 'metron', where 'klinein' meant 'to lean' and 'metron' meant 'measure'.

'clinometer' entered scientific usage from New Latin/Modern French 'clinomètre' (19th century) and was adopted into English from these forms.

Initially it meant 'an instrument for measuring inclination', and this basic meaning has remained essentially the same into modern usage.