'poultry-raising' is a compound of 'poultry' and 'raising.' 'Poultry' originates from Middle English (poultre, poultrie) from Old French 'poulet,' ultimately from Latin 'pullus' meaning 'young animal' (especially a young bird). 'Raising' is the present participle of 'raise,' which derives from Old Norse 'reisa' meaning 'to lift or raise' and developed the sense 'to rear or bring up.'

'poultry' changed from Old French 'poulet' and Middle English 'poultrie' into modern English 'poultry.' 'Raise' developed from Old Norse 'reisa' and Middle English forms like 'raisen' into modern 'raise,' with 'raising' as its gerund/participle; the compound 'poultry-raising' emerged in modern English to describe the activity of rearing domestic fowl.

Originally, 'poultry' referred to young fowl or small birds but broadened to mean domestic fowl collectively; 'raise' originally meant 'to lift' and later acquired the sense 'to rear or bring up,' so 'poultry-raising' came to mean rearing domestic fowl for eggs, meat, or breeding.