'Anguis' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'anguis', where the root meant 'snake' or 'serpent'.

'Anguis' comes directly from Classical Latin 'anguis' and was carried into scientific (taxonomic) Latin as the genus name 'Anguis' used in modern biological classification.

Initially it meant 'snake' in general Latin usage; over time it became fixed as the scientific name for a genus of legless lizards (slowworms).