'shock-absorbing' originates from English, formed from 'shock' (ultimately from French 'choc/choquer') and 'absorbing' from Latin 'absorbere,' where 'ab-' meant 'away' and 'sorbere' meant 'to suck.'

'choc' in French influenced Middle English to yield 'shock,' while Latin 'absorbere' became English 'absorb' and its participle 'absorbing'; the compound adjective 'shock-absorbing' developed in modern English for technical and everyday use.

Initially, it meant 'literally absorbing physical shocks,' and it later broadened to include figurative use such as 'mitigating negative impact or stress.'