Late 17th century; earliest use found in Thomas Browne (1605–1682), physician and author. From post-classical Latin rhopalicus (adjective) (of a line or passage of verse) in which each word contains one syllable more than the one immediately preceding it (3rd cent.) from ancient Greek ῥόπαλον cudgel thicker towards one end (from an ablaut variant ( o -grade) of the base of ῥέπειν to turn the scale, sink, cause to incline, of uncertain origin + -αλον, suffix forming nouns) + classical Latin -icus.