What is voxel short for?

Could you possibly elaborate, if it's not too much trouble, on the abbreviation "voxel"? I'm rather curious to understand its origin and significance within the realm of computer graphics or potentially other related fields. Could you possibly provide a concise yet informative explanation? I'm particularly interested in knowing what the individual letters of the abbreviation stand for and how it's utilized in practical applications. Thank you for your time and consideration in addressing this inquiry.