'acetylcyanide' originates from the combination of 'acetyl' and 'cyanide', where 'acetyl' is derived from the Latin 'acetum' meaning 'vinegar', and 'cyanide' is derived from the Greek 'kyanos' meaning 'dark blue'.

The term 'acetylcyanide' was formed by combining the chemical terms 'acetyl' and 'cyanide' to describe a specific compound.

Initially, it referred to the chemical structure of the compound, and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.