'tomentose' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'tomentōsus', where 'tomentum' meant 'a stuffing, cushion stuffing, or padding (often of wool)'.

'tomentose' changed from the Medieval/Latin word 'tomentōsus' (from Latin 'tomentum') and was adopted into English in its modern form 'tomentose' (used in botanical contexts from the 17th–18th century onward).

Initially, it referred to 'having or consisting of stuffing/padding' (from 'tomentum'), but over time it evolved to mean 'covered with dense, matted hairs' in botanical usage.