'paleontology-related' is a modern compound of 'paleontology' + 'related'. 'paleontology' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'palaios' where 'palai-' meant 'old/ancient', 'ontos' meant 'being', and 'logia' meant 'study'. 'related' originates from Latin, specifically the past participle 'relatus' (from 'referre'), where 're-' meant 'back' and 'ferre' meant 'to carry.'

'paleontology' came into English via Neo-Latin/modern scientific coinage 'palaeontologia' (Greek roots) and was adopted in English in the 19th century as 'paleontology'. 'related' evolved from Latin 'relatus' through Old French/Middle English forms (e.g. Old French relater, Middle English relaten) to the modern English 'related'. The compound 'paleontology-related' is a recent, descriptive formation in modern English.

Initially, 'paleontology' meant 'the study of ancient beings' (from its Greek roots), and that core meaning has been preserved in modern usage. 'related' originally carried a sense of 'brought back' (from Latin 'relatus') but shifted to the general sense 'connected' or 'having a relation', which is the current meaning used in the compound.