'xerosis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'xērós,' where 'xērós' meant 'dry.' The suffix '-osis' is used in medical terminology to indicate a condition or process.

'xerosis' was adopted directly from New Latin medical terminology, which borrowed it from Greek, and it has been used in English medical contexts since the 19th century.

Initially, it meant 'dryness' in a general sense, but in modern usage, it specifically refers to abnormal dryness of body tissues.