'unobtrusive' originates from the Latin word 'obtrudere,' where 'ob-' meant 'against' and 'trudere' meant 'to thrust.'

'obtrudere' transformed into the English word 'obtrude,' and eventually became the modern English word 'unobtrusive' by adding the prefix 'un-' to indicate the opposite meaning.

Initially, it meant 'not thrusting oneself upon others,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.