'pruritogen' originates from New Latin/Modern English, specifically the Latin word 'pruritus' and the Greek/Latin combining form '-gen', where 'prurire' meant 'to itch' and '-gen' meant 'producing'.

'pruritogen' changed from a New Latin/medical coinage combining 'pruritus' (Latin) + the suffix '-gen' and eventually became the modern English medical term 'pruritogen'.

Initially, it meant 'that which produces itching', and over time it has retained this meaning as 'a substance that causes pruritus (itching)'.