'desialylate' originates from the modern scientific formation combining the prefix 'de-' (meaning 'remove') and 'sialyl' (from 'sialic'), where 'sialic' ultimately traces to Greek 'sialon' meaning 'saliva'.

'desialylate' was formed in biochemical nomenclature by attaching the verb-forming suffix '-ate' to 'sialyl' (from 'sialic'), itself derived from the New Latin term for sialic acid; this modern formation produced the English scientific verb 'desialylate' used to mean removal of sialic acid residues.

Initially, 'sial-' elements referred to 'saliva' in origin, but in modern biochemical usage the root 'sialyl' came to denote the sialic acid residue on glycoconjugates; 'desialylate' therefore evolved to mean 'remove that sialic acid'.