1650s, "of or relating to building or construction," from Late Latin tectonicus, from Greek tektonikos "pertaining to building," from tekton (genitive tektonos) "builder, carpenter, woodworker; master in any art (sculpture, metal-work, writing)," from PIE root *teks- "to make" (see texture, n.). The geological sense, "pertaining to the structure of the Earth's crust," is recorded from 1887.