Tribology derives from the Greek tribos meaning I rub. Formally defined, it is the science and technology of interacting surfaces in relative motion and all practices related thereto. In other words, it is the science and technology of friction, lubrication, and wear. The study of tribology is perhaps most commonly applied in bearing design.
The term became more widely used following a British study in 1966 [The Jost Report] in which huge sums of money were reported to have been lost in the UK annually due to the consequences of friction and wear. Several national centres for tribology were created in the UK as a result. Since then the term has diffused into the international engineering field and a number of specialists now claim to be tribologists. There is even a Society for Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers STLE in the USA.
Note the term 'fricare' (Latin) meaning 'to rub' from which derives the word 'friction.'
Other Tribology links:
South African institute of Tribology SAIT
Tribology topic guides from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers IMechE