1426, "barren" (implied in
sterility), from M.Fr.
stérile "not producing fruit," from L.
sterilis "barren, unproductive," from PIE
*ster- "sterile, barren" originally "stiff, rigid" (cf. Gk.
steresthai "be deprived of,"
steira "sterile,"
stereos "firm, solid, stiff, hard;" Skt.
starih "a barren cow;" O.C.S.
sterica "a barren cow;" Goth.
stairo "barren;" O.N.
stirtla "a barren cow"). See
torpor. Originally in Eng. with ref. to soil; of females, from 1535. The sense of "sterilized" is first recorded 1877.
Sterilize "destroy the fertility of" is from 1695 (in ref. to soil); of living things from 1828. Meaning "render free of microorganisms" is from 1878.
Sterilization is from 1874.
[ster-il or, especially Brit., -ahyl] 
