'energy-absorbing' originates from English as a compound of 'energy' and the present participle 'absorbing'; 'energy' comes from Greek 'energeia,' where 'en-' meant 'in' and 'ergon' meant 'work,' and 'absorb' comes from Latin 'absorbere,' where 'ab(s)-' meant 'away' and 'sorbere' meant 'to suck.'

'energy' entered English via Middle French and Latin from Greek 'energeia,' while 'absorb' came via Middle French from Latin 'absorbere'; the hyphenated compound 'energy-absorbing' became common in engineering and materials science in the mid-20th century.

Initially used literally for materials or structures that take in impact energy to mitigate damage; later broadened to contexts involving vibration and wave attenuation, while keeping the core sense of dissipating energy.