'noise-reducing' originates from Modern English, specifically the noun 'noise' and the present participle 'reducing' from the verb 'reduce' (from Latin 'reducere'). 'Noise' entered English via Old French 'noise' meaning 'disturbance' or 'hurt'.

'noise' passed into Middle English from Old French 'noise' (meaning disturbance, quarrel) and developed into the modern English word 'noise'. 'Reduce' comes from Latin 'reducere' ('re-' + 'ducere' meaning 'to lead back'), passed through Old French/Medieval Latin forms and Middle English to become modern 'reduce', with its present participle 'reducing' forming compounds like 'noise-reducing'.

Initially, 'noise' could mean 'harm' or 'disturbance' (including quarrel or trouble) and later narrowed/shifted to primarily mean an unwanted sound or sound disturbance. 'Reduce' originally meant 'lead back' in Latin but evolved to mean 'make smaller' or 'lessen', which led to the modern sense of 'reducing' as 'making less (e.g., less noise)'.