The Spanish word 'elástica' comes from the Latin word 'elasticus', which was formed by combining the Ancient Greek word 'elastos' (ἐλαστός) meaning 'malleable' or 'ductile' with the Latin adjective suffix '-icus'. The Greek term described materials that could be stretched or molded, and this meaning carried through to the Latin and eventually Spanish forms.

This word is related to other common Spanish words like 'elástico' (elastic, stretchy) and 'elasticidad' (elasticity). All these words share the same Greek root and convey the idea of flexibility and stretchiness.

English speakers can easily remember this word by connecting it to the English word 'elastic', which comes from the same Greek and Latin origins. Both the English and Spanish words maintain the core meaning of something that can stretch and return to its original shape. Other related English words include 'elasticity' and 'elasticize'.