'acarian' originates from the Greek word 'akari', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'kari' meant 'head', referring to the small size and headless appearance of mites.

'akari' transformed into the Latin word 'acarus', and eventually became the modern English word 'acarian'.

Initially, it meant 'small creature without a head', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'relating to mites and ticks'.