'salt-intolerant' originates from modern English, formed by combining 'salt' and 'intolerant'. 'salt' ultimately comes from Old English 'sealt' meaning 'salt', and 'intolerant' comes via Latin 'intolerans' (from prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' + 'tolerare' meaning 'to bear').

'salt' changed from Old English word 'sealt' and became the modern English word 'salt'; 'intolerant' came from Latin 'intolerans', passed into Middle English/early modern English as 'intolerant', and the compound 'salt-intolerant' is a modern English formation combining the two words.

Initially, the elements meant 'salt' and 'not able to bear' separately; combined, the compound has come to mean 'not able to tolerate salt' in contemporary usage.