'peristalsis-inhibiting' is a compound formed from 'peristalsis' and 'inhibiting'. 'Peristalsis' originates from Greek 'peristaltēs' / 'peristállein' (around + to send/contract), used in medical/Latin contexts; 'inhibiting' derives from Latin 'inhibēre' (to hold in) via the verb 'inhibit' in English.

'peristalsis' entered medical Latin and New Latin from Greek and was adopted into English as a technical term in anatomy and physiology; 'inhibit' comes from Latin 'inhibēre' → Late Latin/Old French forms → Middle English 'inhibiten'/'inhibit', producing modern English 'inhibit' and its participle 'inhibiting'. The compound form 'peristalsis-inhibiting' is a modern English formation used in clinical and pharmacological contexts.

Initially, components referred to 'around-moving contractions' (peristalsis) and 'holding in' (inhibit); combined in modern usage the compound specifically describes agents or actions that suppress those gut contractions.