'acclinal' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aklinēs,' where 'a-' meant 'toward' and 'klinēs' meant 'slope.'

'aklinēs' transformed into the Latin word 'acclinalis,' and eventually became the modern English word 'acclinal.'

Initially, it meant 'toward the slope,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'sloping in the same direction as the dip of the strata.'