'oligohidrotic' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'oligos' and 'hidrōs', where 'oligo-' meant 'few' and 'hidrōs' (or 'hidro-') meant 'sweat', combined with the English adjectival suffix '-tic'.

'oligohidrotic' developed as a modern medical English adjective from the Greek-based compound 'oligohidrosis' (New Latin/medical formation meaning 'reduced sweating'), with '-tic' forming the adjective 'oligohidrotic'.

Initially it referred to the condition or state of 'reduced sweating' and this meaning has been preserved in modern medical usage, now used adjectivally to describe persons or glands showing reduced sweating.