Mid 19th century. From Hellenistic Greek ἐμπαιστικός of or relating to embossing (in ἐμπαιστική τέχνη the art of embossing) from Byzantine Greek ἐμπαιστός embossed (although this is apparently first attested later; from Hellenistic Greek ἐμπαίειν to beat in, emboss, already in ancient Greek in intransitive, figurative use + -τός, suffix forming verbal adjectives) + -ικός.