'quake-prone' originates from Modern English as a compound of the words 'quake' and 'prone', where 'quake' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'cwacian' (to tremble) and 'prone' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'pronus' (bent forward).

'quake' changed from the Old English word 'cwacian' and developed into Middle English forms such as 'quaken' and eventually modern English 'quake'; 'prone' passed into English via Latin 'pronus' (and Old French influence) and became Middle English 'prone', and in modern English these elements combined to form compounds like 'quake-prone'.

Initially, 'quake' meant 'to tremble' and 'prone' meant 'bent forward' or 'inclined'; over time the compound 'quake-prone' came to mean 'likely to be affected by earthquakes' (susceptible to earthquake damage).