'glycine-independent' originates from Modern English as a compound formed by joining 'glycine' and 'independent'. 'glycine' names the amino acid derived from Greek 'glykys' meaning 'sweet', and 'independent' comes from Latin 'independens' meaning 'not hanging from' (i.e., 'not dependent').

'glycine' comes into English via New Latin/modern chemical nomenclature from Greek 'glykys' ('sweet') and the suffix forming the name of the amino acid; 'independent' entered English from Old French/Latin 'independens' and developed into Middle English 'independent', and the modern compound 'glycine-independent' is a recent formation in scientific English.

Initially, 'glycine' referred to the 'sweet' substance from which the amino acid was named, while 'independent' historically meant 'not dependent'; combined in scientific usage it now specifically denotes 'not requiring glycine' in a biochemical or physiological context.