'knock-preventing' originates from English, specifically the compound of 'knock' + 'preventing'. 'Knock' is an imitative/Old English root related to 'cnocian' (to strike), and 'preventing' is the present participle form derived from 'prevent', which ultimately comes from Latin 'praevenire' ('prae-' meaning 'before' + 'venire' meaning 'to come').

'prevent' came into English via Latin 'praevenire' → Old French 'prevenir' → Middle English forms such as 'prevenen' → modern English 'prevent'. 'Knock' developed from Old English/imitative forms (e.g. 'cnocian', Middle English 'knokken/ noken') into modern 'knock'; the compound was formed by straightforward combination in Modern English.

Individually, 'prevent' originally had the sense 'come before' and later 'hinder or stop'; 'knock' was originally an imitative verb for striking. Over time the compound came to mean simply 'stopping or reducing knocks' in either mechanical/engine contexts or general physical-noise contexts.