'corrosive' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'corrosivus', derived from 'corrodere', where 'cor-' was an intensive prefix and 'rodere' meant 'to gnaw'.

'corrosive' changed from Late Latin 'corrosivus' and passed into English (via Medieval/Modern Latin and French forms such as 'corrosif'), eventually becoming the modern English word 'corrosive' (and the adverb 'corrosively').

Initially it meant 'gnawing away' (literally 'to gnaw'), but over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'causing gradual destruction or undermining' both physically and figuratively.