The story
Coined by English polymath William Whewell in 1834 for Michael Faraday. From electro- + -lysis (“a loosening”). Originally of tumors, later (1909) of hair removal.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
electrolysis
Today it means: The chemical change produced by passing an electric current through a conducting solution or a molten salt. Full definition →