'lymphangitis' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'lymphangitis', where 'lymph-' traces to Latin 'lympha' (from Greek 'lympha') meaning 'water' or 'lymph', 'angion' (Greek) meant 'vessel', and the suffix '-itis' (Greek) meant 'inflammation'.

'lymphangitis' changed from the New Latin/Modern Latin medical term 'lymphangitis' (formed from Greek elements) and was adopted into English medical usage in the 19th century as the modern English word 'lymphangitis'.

Initially, it meant 'inflammation of a lymph vessel' in classical formation, and this core meaning has persisted into modern medical usage as 'inflammation of lymphatic vessels, often due to infection'.