'phylloxera-susceptible' is a compound formed from 'phylloxera' and 'susceptible'. 'Phylloxera' originates from New Latin 'Phylloxera', coined from Greek roots 'phyll-' meaning 'leaf' and an element meaning 'louse' (used to denote plant-sucking pests). 'Susceptible' originates from Latin 'susceptibilis', from 'suscipere' meaning 'to take up' or 'to receive'.

'phylloxera' entered English in the 19th century (via New Latin) as the name of the grapevine pest; 'susceptibilis' passed into Old French as 'susceptible' and then into modern English as 'susceptible'. The compound 'phylloxera-susceptible' is a modern English formation used in viticulture and plant pathology.

Originally, 'susceptible' carried the general sense 'able to take or receive'; over time it evolved to mean 'liable to be affected by' or 'vulnerable to'. 'Phylloxera-susceptible' has the specific, modern meaning 'liable to be affected by phylloxera'.