'tumor-bearing' originates from Modern English as a compound combining 'tumor' (from Latin 'tumor', from the verb 'tumēre' meaning 'to swell') and 'bearing' (the present participle of 'bear', from Old English 'beran' meaning 'to carry' or 'to bear').

'tumor' came into English via Latin 'tumor' (and Old French 'tumeur') from the verb 'tumēre' meaning 'to swell'; 'bearing' is derived from Old English 'beran' (to carry) through Middle English forms, and the compound 'tumor-bearing' was formed in Modern English by combining the noun and the participle.

Initially, 'tumor' meant 'a swelling' and 'bearing' meant 'carrying'; over time the compound came to be used specifically to describe an organism or tissue 'having or carrying a tumor'.