'hrtimer' originates from English, specifically the phrase 'high-resolution timer', where 'high' meant 'of great height or degree', 'resolution' meant 'the act or capability of separating into fine detail', and 'timer' derived from Old English 'tima' meaning 'time'.

'hrtimer' changed from the phrase 'high-resolution timer' and was abbreviated to 'hrtimer' in computing documentation and source code (notably within the Linux kernel), becoming standard technical jargon for that subsystem.

Initially, it meant 'a timer capable of very fine time-granularity measurements or scheduling', and over time the meaning has largely remained the same while its usage broadened to refer to the kernel subsystem implementing such timers.