'rickets-preventing' originates from Modern English, specifically the compound of the noun 'rickets' and the present participle 'preventing' (from the verb 'prevent'), where 'rickets' referred to the bone disease and 'prevent' meant 'to stop from happening'.

'rickets' developed in early Modern English from the earlier form 'ricket' (used from the 17th century) and became the standard noun 'rickets' for the disease; 'prevent' comes via Old French 'prevenir' from Latin 'praevenire', and the present participle 'preventing' is the Modern English verbal form combined to form the compound adjective.

Initially the components referred separately to the disease 'rickets' and the action 'to prevent'; together in Modern English they form a descriptive compound meaning 'intended to prevent rickets', a meaning that has remained stable since formation.