'tryptic' (biochemical sense) originates from modern New Latin/English formation: it is built from 'trypsin' (the proteolytic enzyme) + the adjectival suffix '-ic', the sense arising in scientific usage in the late 19th century.

'tryptic' (art-related sense) is historically connected to the older word 'triptych' from Old French 'triptyque' and Medieval Latin 'triptychum', ultimately from Greek 'triptychos' ('tri-' meaning 'three' + 'ptychos' meaning 'fold'); the modern English 'tryptic' has taken on both a rare art-related variant sense and a separate biochemical sense.

Initially the root for the art sense came from Greek for 'three-fold' (a three-paneled work); later, in modern scientific usage, a distinct meaning formed referring to action by 'trypsin' (enzyme) — the two senses coexist, one art-historical and one biochemical.