'acephali' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'akephalos,' where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'kephalē' meant 'head.'

'akephalos' transformed into the Latin word 'acephalus,' and eventually became the modern English word 'acephali' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'without a head,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.