'dentulous' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'dentulus' (a diminutive of 'dens'), where 'dent-' meant 'tooth' and the diminutive suffix '-ulus' meant 'small' or 'little'.

'dentulous' came into English usage via New/Medieval Latin (from 'dentulus' or related formations) and was adopted into modern English medical and descriptive vocabulary as 'dentulous'.

Initially, it meant 'having teeth' (derived from the Latin root for 'tooth'), and its meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.