'post-ski' originates from English, formed by the prefix 'post-' (from Latin 'post' meaning 'after') combined with 'ski' (from Norwegian 'skíð' via Old Norse), where the compound literally signals 'after skiing'.

'post-' entered English via Latin/Medieval Latin as a productive prefix meaning 'after'; 'ski' entered English from Norwegian (Old Norse 'skíð') in the 19th century; the compound 'post-ski' is a modern English formation modeled on terms like 'post-game' and calqued in usage alongside French 'après-ski'.

Initially a literal combination meaning 'after ski'; over time it has been used more specifically to denote social or leisure activities following a day of skiing (i.e., the cultural sense of 'après-ski').